Family Remembers a Gentle Soul, Demands Justice
The family of 24-year-old Anjel Chakma, who died following an alleged racist attack in Dehradun, is grappling with an irreparable loss, remembering him as a calm and friendly young man on the cusp of a bright future. His maternal uncle, Momen Chakma, shared that Anjel, having lived across states due to his father's Border Security Force (BSF) postings, was acutely aware of life's challenges and was eager to support his family.
Having secured a job with a French multinational company through campus placement just a month ago, Anjel had urged his father, a BSF head constable, to opt for voluntary retirement and rest, assuring him that he would now take care of the family. He had plans to request a posting in Guwahati or Kolkata to be closer to his home state of Tripura and had even asked his mother to be ready to move in with him.
"He also said that he would fund his younger brother Michael’s higher studies to free his father of the burden," Momen Chakma told TOI. "Imagine the condition of his father, who is protecting the country from enemies at the border and lost his son to enemies within the country." The family has requested the government to transfer the case to a court in Delhi for their convenience.
Political Outcry and Police Action
The tragic incident has triggered widespread condemnation and promises of strict action from the highest levels. Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami stated that his government is taking the case very seriously. "Any such incident is not at all acceptable in Uttarakhand. Those involved in such crimes won’t be spared," CM Dhami said. He confirmed that police have already arrested five of the six accused, including two juveniles, and are working to nab the remaining absconding individual.
Tripura Chief Minister Manik Saha spoke to CM Dhami on Saturday, seeking strict action against the accused. The outrage has resonated across the northeastern states, with leaders like Meghalaya CM Conrad Sangma and former Manipur CM N Biren Singh also condemning the incident and demanding stern punishment for the perpetrators.
Adding institutional weight to the probe, the National Commission for Scheduled Tribes (NCST) served notices on Saturday to the Uttarakhand Director General of Police, Dehradun District Magistrate, and Senior Superintendent of Police, seeking a detailed report on the action taken in the case.
Shattered Dreams and Unopened Trekking Shoes
Anjel's younger brother, 21-year-old Michael, who was in Dehradun on his brother's insistence, is now left with haunting memories and a vow never to return to Uttarakhand. "He was always in awe of the state and asked me to pursue higher studies from Dehradun too. So, I enrolled in a BA course through correspondence," Michael shared.
Anjel was fond of hiking and the mountains. The brothers had planned a trek to Chandrashila on December 22, after his exams concluded. "But now, his new trekking shoes, which arrived a day after the incident, on December 10, lie unpacked," Michael said, heartbroken. He recounted the cruel twist of fate: "He came to receive me at Dehradun airport when I first landed there, and after a year, I was leaving the same airport with his coffin."
The incident has cast a long shadow, raising serious questions about safety and prejudice, even as authorities pledge to deliver justice for Anjel Chakma and his grieving family.
