Tripura student dies after racial attack with knife, kada; fought for life for 17 days
A protest against racial abuse at a roadside canteen in Dehradun has tragically ended with the death of a 24-year-old student from Tripura. The police have intensified their investigation and are searching for an absconding accused in the case.
What began as a protest against alleged racial abuse at a roadside canteen in Uttarakhand’s Dehradun has ended in a murder case, with a 24-year-old student from Tripura dying after battling for life for 17 days, prompting the state government to issue strong assurances of action and police to widen their probe.
Police said the student, identified as Angel Chakma, a resident of Nandanagar in Tripura’s Unakoti district, died on Friday at a private hospital where he was undergoing treatment for critical head and back injuries. With his death, murder charges have now been added to the case.
RACIAL SLUR PROTEST TURNED VIOLENT
According to police, the incident took place on December 9 in the Selakui police station area. Angel Chakma and his brother Michael Chakma were at a roadside canteen near a liquor shop when a group of intoxicated men allegedly passed racially abusive remarks at them. When the brothers objected, a heated argument broke out, quickly escalating into violence.
SP City Pramod Kumar said six men allegedly attacked Angel during the scuffle, using a sharp-edged weapon and a kada, leaving him grievously injured.
Dehradun SSP Ajai Singh said the accused appeared to be intoxicated and the situation spiralled out of control within minutes. Angel was struck on the head and back and collapsed at the spot before being rushed to hospital.
SEVENTEEN-DAY BATTLE ENDS IN DEATH
Angel remained under treatment for more than two weeks but succumbed to his injuries on Friday. His family had lodged a complaint at Selakui police station on December 10, following which an FIR was registered and a special police team was constituted.
Police said five accused have so far been arrested in the case. Two of them are minors and have been sent to a juvenile reform home. The arrested accused have been identified as Avnish Negi, Shaurya Rajput, Suraj Khwas, Sumit and Ayush Baroni.
One accused remains absconding. Police suspect he may have fled to Nepal, and a reward of Rs 25,000 has been announced for information leading to his arrest. A police team has also been sent to Nepal to assist in tracing the fugitive.
UTTARAKHAND GOVERNMENT REACTS
The Uttarakhand government said it has taken the murder of the Tripura student “very seriously”. Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami said such incidents were completely unacceptable in the state and warned of strict action against those involved.
“Any such incident is absolutely unacceptable in Uttarakhand. The government will deal firmly with anti-social elements, and those involved in such crimes will not be spared,” Dhami said, according to a statement issued by the Chief Minister’s Office.
He directed the police to ensure the swift arrest of the absconding accused and said law and order would not be compromised under any circumstances. Expressing condolences to the victim’s family, the Chief Minister said the state government was committed to ensuring the safety of every citizen living in Uttarakhand.
CASE ESCALATES, PROBE WIDENED
With murder charges now invoked, investigators are re-examining witness statements, medical records and forensic evidence. Police said relevant sections under the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita have been enhanced following Angel Chakma’s death.
The case has also drawn the attention of the National Commission for Scheduled Tribes (NCST), which has issued notices to the District Magistrate of Dehradun, the Uttarakhand Director General of Police and the Dehradun Superintendent of Police, seeking a detailed report on the incident.
What began as a protest against alleged racial abuse at a roadside canteen in Uttarakhand’s Dehradun has ended in a murder case, with a 24-year-old student from Tripura dying after battling for life for 17 days, prompting the state government to issue strong assurances of action and police to widen their probe.
Police said the student, identified as Angel Chakma, a resident of Nandanagar in Tripura’s Unakoti district, died on Friday at a private hospital where he was undergoing treatment for critical head and back injuries. With his death, murder charges have now been added to the case.
RACIAL SLUR PROTEST TURNED VIOLENT
According to police, the incident took place on December 9 in the Selakui police station area. Angel Chakma and his brother Michael Chakma were at a roadside canteen near a liquor shop when a group of intoxicated men allegedly passed racially abusive remarks at them. When the brothers objected, a heated argument broke out, quickly escalating into violence.
SP City Pramod Kumar said six men allegedly attacked Angel during the scuffle, using a sharp-edged weapon and a kada, leaving him grievously injured.
Dehradun SSP Ajai Singh said the accused appeared to be intoxicated and the situation spiralled out of control within minutes. Angel was struck on the head and back and collapsed at the spot before being rushed to hospital.
SEVENTEEN-DAY BATTLE ENDS IN DEATH
Angel remained under treatment for more than two weeks but succumbed to his injuries on Friday. His family had lodged a complaint at Selakui police station on December 10, following which an FIR was registered and a special police team was constituted.
Police said five accused have so far been arrested in the case. Two of them are minors and have been sent to a juvenile reform home. The arrested accused have been identified as Avnish Negi, Shaurya Rajput, Suraj Khwas, Sumit and Ayush Baroni.
One accused remains absconding. Police suspect he may have fled to Nepal, and a reward of Rs 25,000 has been announced for information leading to his arrest. A police team has also been sent to Nepal to assist in tracing the fugitive.
UTTARAKHAND GOVERNMENT REACTS
The Uttarakhand government said it has taken the murder of the Tripura student “very seriously”. Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami said such incidents were completely unacceptable in the state and warned of strict action against those involved.
“Any such incident is absolutely unacceptable in Uttarakhand. The government will deal firmly with anti-social elements, and those involved in such crimes will not be spared,” Dhami said, according to a statement issued by the Chief Minister’s Office.
He directed the police to ensure the swift arrest of the absconding accused and said law and order would not be compromised under any circumstances. Expressing condolences to the victim’s family, the Chief Minister said the state government was committed to ensuring the safety of every citizen living in Uttarakhand.
CASE ESCALATES, PROBE WIDENED
With murder charges now invoked, investigators are re-examining witness statements, medical records and forensic evidence. Police said relevant sections under the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita have been enhanced following Angel Chakma’s death.
The case has also drawn the attention of the National Commission for Scheduled Tribes (NCST), which has issued notices to the District Magistrate of Dehradun, the Uttarakhand Director General of Police and the Dehradun Superintendent of Police, seeking a detailed report on the incident.