Tripura student Angel Chakma’s death: What we know so far

“I am not Chinese… I am an Indian. What certificate should I show to prove that?” These were the last words of 24-year-old Angel Chakma, a student from Tripura who was violently attacked by a racist mob on December 9, 2025 in Uttarakhand’s Dehradun. While he and his brother were buying some household items in Selakui locality, a group of intoxicated men began using caste-based slurs against him. When Chakma objected to their remarks, they turned violent and attacked him with rods and knives, according to the FIR. After fighting for his life for 16 days at a hospital in Dehradun, the 24-year-old succumbed to his injuries on December 25.

Cause of death

Dehradun Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Ajay Singh said that Chakma had suffered fatal spinal and head injuries in the assault.

Currently, five individuals have been arrested in connection with the incident. This includes two minors who have been placed in a juvenile reform home. The police are actively conducting raids to apprehend an absconding suspect, for whom a reward of ₹25,000 has been announced for capture. Additionally, a police team has been dispatched to Nepal in pursuit of this absconding individual, as reported by the Uttarakhand Chief Minister’s Office.

Financial assistance to Chakma family

The Uttarakhand government, on the instructions of Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami, also provided financial assistance to the Chakma family and sent a cheque of ₹4.12 lakh as the first installment, officials said. This financial assistance has been sanctioned under the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act, 1989 and the Protection of Civil Rights Act, 1955, they said.

No evidence of racial slur in Chakma’s death: SSP Dehradun

Meanwhile, a senior police official said that no evidence of racial remarks has emerged in the preliminary investigation for the murder of Chakma.

“In preliminary investigation, no evidence of racial remarks has emerged in the inquiry in this case. Probe is still underway. I reject the allegations (that the police did not file an FIR in the case) because the complaint about the incident was filed 24 hours later. One accused of Nepali origin remains absconding, the other five accused (including one from Manipur and one from the Bhoksa community) have been arrested,” SSP Singh said.

Political backlash grows over Tripura student’s death

Several political leaders came forward condemning this horrible act of violence against the Tripura student. Leader of Opposition in Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi called the killing a “horrific hate crime”, as he accused the ruling BJP of “normalising” hate. 

Also read: Speak up against hate crimes: Sibal to Shah on Tripura student killing

Union minister Kiren Rijiju expressed “dismay and anger” over the killing and called upon the people to fight against this “mindset” together, saying any such incident is “very shameful” and harms the country.

Similarly, former Union minister and Congress MP Shashi Tharoor said the brutal killing “is a national disgrace”, and political and religious leaders must speak out against the abuse of the people from the Northeast as “silence is complicity”.

NHRC issues notice

The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) has issued a notice to the District Magistrate and Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) in Dehradun on December 30 regarding the incident. The NHRC has instructed local authorities to conduct a thorough investigation into the allegations and has requested a report on the actions taken within seven days.

(With PTI and ANI inputs)