Police in Uttarakhand are facing serious accusations of delaying the registration of a First Information Report (FIR) following a violent assault that led to the death of a 24-year-old MBA student from Tripura. The incident, which has sparked widespread protests and allegations of a racially motivated attack, occurred in Dehradun's Selakui area on December 9.
Protests Erupt in Tripura Demanding Justice
Student organizations in Tripura have taken to the streets, holding rallies and marches to condemn the attack and the perceived police inaction. They have labeled the assault as racially motivated and are demanding strict punishment for the accused as well as action against the Uttarakhand Police officials responsible for the delay.
A Chakma student organization conducted a protest rally in Agartala. Simultaneously, the student wing of TIPRA Motha, an ally of the BJP in Tripura, organized a candlelight vigil on Sunday evening seeking justice for Anjel and his younger brother Michael, who was also attacked.
Allegations of Police Lapse and Suspect's Escape
In an appeal to Union Home Minister Amit Shah, the TIPRA Motha-affiliated group claimed that the Uttarakhand Police failed to register a case for three full days after the incident. This critical delay, they allege, allowed the prime suspect to flee the country.
"Exploiting the delay in police response, the primary suspect in the case, Yagya Awasthi, managed to flee to Nepal. Police had not detained anyone till December 26," stated Suraj Debbarma, president of the Youth Tipra Federation (YTF). He added that an FIR against six individuals was finally filed on December 13, only after the intervention of a retired IPS officer. Arrests of five suspects followed, but only after the Tripura Chief Minister personally spoke with his Uttarakhand counterpart two days ago.
Father's Account of a Racial Attack
Anjel's father, Tarun Chakma, a BSF jawan posted in Manipur, provided a harrowing account of the event. He stated that his sons were first subjected to racial slurs like "Chinku," "Chinese," and "Chinese momo" at the market. When Anjel confronted the attackers and asserted his Indian identity, the group assaulted both brothers with knives and blunt objects.
Tarun Chakma said the injuries to Anjel's neck and back proved fatal. He described how the brothers were approached by six people on a scooter and a motorcycle. Michael was allegedly shoved to the ground without provocation, and when Anjel protested, the group abused them before launching the violent attack.
Anjel Chakma, who was in his final year of MBA and had recently received a job offer, was laid to rest on Monday in his native village of Machmara in Tripura's Unakoti district.
Calls for National Protection and Strict Laws
The Twipra Students Federation (TSF) stated that this case is a grim reflection of the continuing racial discrimination and violence faced by tribal communities from Northeast India in other parts of the country. TSF president Samrat Debbarma urged the central government to enact stringent laws to protect people from the northeast living in other regions.
He issued a strong warning, saying, "Unless immediate steps to protect NE people in the mainland are not taken, we shall resort to agitation across the country." The incident has reignited the urgent debate about the safety and security of citizens from India's northeastern states when they travel or reside in other regions for work or education.
