On Friday, the death of a 24-year-old post-graduate student from Tripura in Dehradun caused national indignation and raised worries about racism and bias against Northeastern Indians.
Congress MP Shashi Tharoor called the matter a ''national disgrace" and connected it to a strong social bias. After being brutally attacked by a group of men, the student was alive for more than two weeks. On this Friday, he passed away. It is understood from the police and the family members that this is a hateful, racist attack.
Who is Angel Chakma?
The victim's name is Angel Chakma, who was an MBA student at the private University of Dehradun. He was attacked on December 9th in the Selaqui area of the city. He was treated for more than two weeks after suffering severe stabbing wounds. Police say that on December 26, he passed away from his wounds. According to police, an argument broke out, and the incident happened close to a liquor store. Both the accused and the victim were accused of drinking alcohol at the time of the incident.
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Shashi Tharoor's reaction to this murder case
The MP took it to X (formerly Twitter), "a young man from Tripura, a proud Indian, was 'racially abused', 'dehumanised with slurs' like ‘Chinese’ and ‘momo,’ and ultimately murdered."
Shashi Tharoor added, “This was not an isolated act of violence; it was the culmination of ignorance, prejudice, and a failure of our society to recognize and respect its own diversity,”. He went on to flag what he highlighted, and he said, “It is shocking, and deeply shameful, that racism is rising in North India, often cloaked in casual mockery or systemic neglect.”
Tharoor expressed concern about the "rising trend of racism," especially in North India. According to him, discrimination can often appear as carelessness or casual mocking.
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He highlighted that the Northeast is crucial to India's identity rather than an isolated part of the nation. People from the area still experience racism, exclusion, and abuse, and they demand an end to these behaviours.
Police action on this case
According to the police, A special team has been set up to find the missing suspects, and the case has been filed.
On December 14, five suspects were taken into custody: Avinash Negi, Shaurya Rajput, Suraj Khwas, Ayush Badoni, and Sumit. The main suspect, who appears to be the mastermind, is still missing.
Pradyot Kishore Manikya Debbarma, the leader of Tipra Motha, declared a ₹10 lakh reward for information that resulted in the arrest of the escapee suspect.
The brutal killing of Aniel Chakwa in Uttarakhand is not just a tragedy—it is a national disgrace. A young man from Tripura, a proud Indian, was racially abused, dehumanized with slurs like “Chinese” and “momo,” and ultimately murdered. This was not an isolated act of violence;… pic.twitter.com/WHmA0m7Q0L
— Shashi Tharoor (@ShashiTharoor) December 29, 2025
