The father of Anjel Chakma, a student from Tripura who died in Dehradun, has alleged that his son was brutally attacked with knives and blunt objects after being subjected to racial slurs.
Speaking to PTI, Tarun Chakma, a BSF jawan currently posted in Tangjeng, said Anjel was assaulted when he tried to defend his younger brother Michael, who had allegedly been abused and pushed to the ground by a group of men.
According to Tarun Chakma, the attackers repeatedly called his sons “Chinese momo” and other racial slurs. When Anjel protested and asserted that he was Indian, the group allegedly launched a violent attack using knives, a sharp-edged object and a kadaa (metal bracelet), causing severe injuries to his neck and back.
Delay in FIR alleged
The grieving father also accused police of initially refusing to register a complaint. He said an FIR was lodged only two to three days later after pressure from the All India Chakma Students Union and senior police officers.
Anjel, a final-year MBA student at a private university in Dehradun, battled for life for 17 days before succumbing to his injuries on Friday. His last rites were performed in Machmara village in Unakoti district.
Police version and arrests
Police said the 24-year-old sustained serious head and back injuries during a quarrel with five to six people at a canteen in the Selakui area on December 9. Dehradun SSP Ajai Singh said a fight broke out following a misunderstanding, during which Anjel was attacked with a sharp object and a kadaa.
So far, five people have been arrested in connection with the incident, while another accused, believed to be from Nepal, may have fled the country. Two minors have also been detained.
Police said a complaint was filed on December 10, after which an investigation was initiated. Arrests followed on December 14.
Calling the incident a “brutal murder”, Tarun Chakma said his son’s neck was broken during the assault and demanded strict punishment for those responsible. “I have lost my son. Now he must get justice,” he said.