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Lynching of Anjel Chakma

Lynching of Anjel Chakma
Location30°21′14″N 77°52′36″E / 30.3540°N 77.8766°E / 30.3540; 77.8766
Dehradun Uttarakhand, India
DateDecember 9, 2025; 48 days ago (2025-12-09)
Attack type
Lynching
Deaths1
VictimAnjel Chakma
Perpetratorsest. 6 people
Accused6

Lynching of Anjel Chakma happened in Dehradun, Uttarakhand, in December 2025. Chakma was a 24‑year‑old MBA student at Jigyasa University at Dehradun, Uttarakhand, India and originally from Tripura.[1]

The incident happened following heated arguments over racial remark by the locals causing injuring Chakma and his brother, where Anjel Chakma succumbed to his injuries on 26 December 2025. The incident sparked Nationwide protests and compelled Uttarakhand Police to form a SIT to probe Chakma's death.[2]

The incident

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The incident happened when Anjel and his brother Michel went to a market in the Selakui area of the city on the evening of 9 December 2025 to buy some household items, where they faced some intoxicated men insulting them as Chinese momo and other racial slurs. Anjel replied them we are also Indian, not Chinese but the group attacked both brothers with knives and blunt objects.[3][4][5] Anjel suffered head, neck and spinal injuries and was hospitalised for over two weeks before he succumbed to his injuries on 26 December 2025.[6]

Reactions

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Soon after the death of Anjel, BBC stated that the killing of Anjel Chakma has renewed calls for a specific anti-racism law.[7]

Following the incident, the All India Chakma Students’ Union (AICSU) demanded shifting of murder trial out of the State.[8] Students from Northeast India staged a protest at the Jantar Mantar, New Delhi demanding justice for Anjel Chakma.[9] Voice raised with slogans as “Stop Racism”, “We Are Indians”, and “We Want Justice.”[10][11]

A nationwide protests were demonstrated with a call against racism ‘We are not Chinese’ over lynching of Anjel Chakma and urging justice for the victim.[12][13][14]

Leader of the Opposition in Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi condemned the incident and stated it as “horrific hate crime”.[15] Gandhi also stated "Hate doesn’t appear overnight."[16]

Reacting on the incident, Union Minister of India Kiren Rijiju expressed deep anguish and demanded that state police forces adopt a ‘Delhi Police’ style special unit for the safety of people from the Northeast India.[17]

Police case and aftermath

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Anjel's brother Michel who was the witness of the incident filed a complaint on 10 December 2025 before Uttarakhand Police and a case was registered on 12 December 2025 against six accused.[18]

However, Tarun Prasad Chakma, father of Anjel and a BSF jawan posted in Manipur alleged that that the police initially refused to register a case, terming the incident a “minor matter”.[19] Witnessing nationwide protests Chief Minister of Uttarakhand Pushkar Singh Dhami spoke to Anjel's father and expressed grief and assured that the accused will be strictly punished and the victim will be given timely justice.[20]

The Uttarakhand Police have arrested five people while the sixth accused Yagyaraj Awasthi, a Nepali national, fled to Nepal.[21] Two accused were juveniles and they were sent to correctional homes, while three other were sent to judicial custody.[22] The police announced a reward of INR 25,000 for information that leads to detain absconding accused Yagyaraj. The police also stated before media that extradition process has been initiated to bring Yagyaraj back from Nepal.[23][24] The reward money for information leading to Yagyaraj's arrest later has been raised from INR 25,000 to INR 1 lakh.[25]

References

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  1. ^ Deb, Debraj; Raj, Aiswarya (30 December 2025). "'They called him Chinese and momo, he said he's from Tripura': In Dehradun, racial attack snuffs out young life". The Indian Express. Retrieved 17 January 2026.
  2. ^ "Tripura student Anjel Chakma's death: What we know so far". The Hindu. 30 December 2025. Retrieved 16 January 2026.
  3. ^ Jain, Ankit (28 December 2025). "Tripura student dies after racial attack with knife, kada; fought for life for 17 days". India Today. Retrieved 18 January 2026.
  4. ^ Choudhury, Ratnadip (27 December 2025). "Tripura Student Stabbed To Death In Dehradun For Objecting To Racial Abuse". NDTV. Retrieved 17 January 2026.
  5. ^ Mishra, Utkarsh (29 December 2025). "'They called him Chinese momo': Tripura student lynched in Dehradun". Rediff.com. Retrieved 17 January 2026.
  6. ^ Ritesh (28 December 2025). "Tripura student Angel Chakma murdered in Dehradun: Racial slurs, 5 accused arrested — All we know so far - CNBC TV18". CNBC TV18. Retrieved 17 January 2026.
  7. ^ Dey, Abhishek (9 January 2026). "Anjel Chakma: Tripura student's killing puts spotlight on racism in India". BBC. Retrieved 16 January 2026.
  8. ^ "Tribal body seeks trial in Anjel Chakma murder case outside Uttarakhand". The Hindu. 29 December 2025. Retrieved 17 January 2026.
  9. ^ "Students Protest At Jantar Mantar Over Tripura Man's Death In Dehradun". NDTV. Press Trust of India. 31 December 2025. Retrieved 17 January 2026.
  10. ^ "Northeast students hold candlelight march in Dehradun demanding justice for Anjel Chakma". The New Indian Express. PTI. 1 January 2026. Retrieved 18 January 2026.
  11. ^ "Northeast students hold candlelight march demanding justice for Anjel". The Hans India. PTI. 2 January 2026. Retrieved 18 January 2026.
  12. ^ Sethi, Narendra (1 January 2026). "Dehradun protests continue over death of Tripura student Angel Chakma". The New Indian Express. Retrieved 16 January 2026.
  13. ^ Mondal, Manisha (1 January 2026). "'We are not Chinese'—Northeast students protest against killing of Anjel Chakma in Delhi". ThePrint. Retrieved 17 January 2026.
  14. ^ Ali, Syed Sajjad (29 December 2025). "Protests erupt in Tripura over murder of student Anjel Chakma in Uttarakhand". The Hindu. Retrieved 17 January 2026.
  15. ^ "Tripura student Anjel Chakma's death a horrific hate crime: Rahul Gandhi". The Hindu. 29 December 2025. Retrieved 24 January 2026.
  16. ^ "'Hate doesn't appear overnight': Rahul Gandhi on Tripura student's death after racial attack". Hindustan Times. 29 December 2025. Retrieved 24 January 2026.
  17. ^ Pandey, Devanshe (29 December 2025). "'I Am Hurt': Union Minister Kiren Rijiju Reacts To Tripura Student Anjel Chakma's Murder". News 18. Retrieved 19 January 2026.
  18. ^ Das, Kalyan (31 December 2025). "Tripura student Angel Chakma's death: Top cop denies delay in registering case; cites legal protocols". The Times of India. Retrieved 17 January 2026.
  19. ^ Kumari, Priyanka (29 December 2025). "Cops refused to file FIR, said it was minor issue: Father of killed Tripura student". India Today. Retrieved 17 January 2026.
  20. ^ Sen Sharma, Aalok (29 December 2025). "Tripura student killing: CM Dhami speaks to Angel Chakma's father, assures of strict action against accused". India TV. Retrieved 17 January 2026.
  21. ^ Jolly, Akshita (31 December 2025). "Northeast students rally at Jantar Mantar, demand justice for Anjel Chakma's death". India Today. Retrieved 17 January 2026.
  22. ^ Raj, Aiswarya (30 December 2025). "After stabbing Tripura youth in Dehradun, accused bought booze and partied, some didn't head home for days". The Indian Express. Retrieved 18 January 2026.
  23. ^ Gupta, Sakshi (29 December 2025). "Dehradhun Tripura Student Killing: Anjel Chakma Assaulted With Knives & Metal Kada, Suffers Right-Side Paralysis; Latest Revelation In The Case". The Free Press Journal. Retrieved 18 January 2026.
  24. ^ Banerjee, Aveek (15 January 2026). "Tripura Student Death: Dehradun Police Say Main Accused Fled To Nepal, Extradition Process Started". News18. Retrieved 17 January 2026.
  25. ^ Sethi, Narendra (31 December 2025). "Dehradun police raise reward to Rs 1 lakh for arrest of main accused in Angel Chakma murder case". The New Indian Express. Retrieved 18 January 2026.