Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami on Monday personally reached out to Tarun Prasad Chakma, the grieving father of 24-year-old Anjel Chakma, who was brutally murdered in Dehradun earlier this month. The Chief Minister conveyed his profound sorrow and gave firm assurances that the perpetrators would face the strictest possible punishment.
CM's Direct Assurance and Action Plan
In a telephonic conversation, CM Dhami informed Anjel's father about the concrete steps being taken by the state government. A special police team has been dispatched to Nepal with the specific mission of apprehending the accused who is currently absconding. The government has also announced a cash reward for information leading to his capture, underscoring the urgency of the manhunt.
Dhami emphasized that Uttarakhand has always been considered a safe haven for students from across India and the world, and this tragic incident has caused widespread distress. He stated that such an atmosphere is alien to the state's traditions and vowed that his administration would deal with such cases with an iron fist.
Contradictory Claims and Ongoing Investigation
While the case initially sparked allegations of a racially motivated attack, the police investigation has presented a different preliminary narrative. Dehradun Senior Superintendent of Police Ajai Singh stated on Monday that the probe so far does not conclusively point to racial slurs being directed at the victim.
According to the SSP, one of the five arrested accused, who is from Manipur, claimed during interrogation that the group was exchanging remarks among themselves in a "lighter vein" and the Chakma brothers mistakenly thought the comments were aimed at them. The SSP clarified that the initial findings suggest the two parties were strangers and the situation escalated from this misunderstanding. The absconding accused is reported to be of Nepalese origin.
Political Outreach and Criticism
Chief Minister Dhami also detailed his high-level engagements regarding the case to the victim's father. He mentioned having spoken with Tripura Chief Minister Manik Saha, Union Home Minister Amit Shah, and Defence Minister Rajnath Singh to keep them apprised of the developments. The Uttarakhand government has promised full support and all possible assistance to the bereaved family.
However, the state government's response has faced criticism from certain quarters. Pradyot Bikram Manikya Debbarma, the chairman of Tripura's Tipra Motha party, lambasted the announced reward of Rs 25,000 for the accused, calling it a "mockery of the life lost from our Northeast." He publicly declared his readiness to offer Rs 10 lakh from his personal funds for information leading to the arrest.
The case has drawn national attention and formal scrutiny from the National Commission for Scheduled Tribes, which has issued notices to top Uttarakhand police and administrative officials demanding an action-taken report.
The incident dates back to December 9, when Anjel Chakma, an MBA student from Tripura, was allegedly attacked by a group of youngsters, including two juveniles, while shopping with his younger brother in Dehradun. He objected to what he perceived as racial slurs, leading to a violent altercation. Anjel succumbed to his injuries on December 26, after battling for his life for over two weeks. His death has triggered a wave of anger and calls for justice across the country.
