A 21-year-old student from Tripura, Angel Chakma, died after being brutally stabbed during an altercation near a liquor shop in Dehradun, Uttarakhand. The incident has sparked nationwide outrage and renewed conversations around racism and the safety of people from the Northeast.
Angel was attacked on December 9 in the Selaqui area of Dehradun after he reportedly objected to racial slurs being hurled at him and his younger brother. He succumbed to his injuries nearly two weeks later, on December 26.
Who was Angel Chakma?
Angel Chakma was an MBA student at a university in Dehradun. He hailed from Nandannagar in the West Tripura district. His father is a BSF jawan posted in the Northeast. After Angel’s death, the family took his body back to Tripura for the last rites.
As per the report of ANI, on the night of the incident, Angel was with his brother, Michael Chakma, at a canteen near a liquor shop. Another group was present at the spot, and a heated argument reportedly broke out after racial abuse.
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According to police, the accused were allegedly drunk and used racial slurs. Angel was stabbed during the altercation and suffered critical injuries.
Five people have been arrested in connection with the case. Two of them are juveniles and have been sent to a correctional home, while two others are in jail. One accused, a Nepali national, is still absconding. Police told ANI that they have issued a non-bailable warrant and announced a reward of ₹25,000 for information leading to his arrest.
Social reaction
Angel Chakma’s death triggered strong reactions on social media, with many users expressing anger, grief, and concern over racism.
An X user wrote,"We are not Chinese... We are Indians. What certificate should be show to prove that?"
He added, "Last words of 24-year-old MBA student from Tripura Angel Chakma who confronted a group of men hurling racial slurs at him and his younger brother. He was stabbed to death."
Another user wrote, "Today as ppl from Tripura we should come out in protest against the brutal murder of Angel Chakma. What happened to him could happen to anyone of us ,this has to stop and we cant accept being treated as 2nd class citizen’s just because we belong to NE . We seek justice"
Another post read, "It's shocking how a young life like Angel Chakma's was lost not in conflict but due to ignorance and hate. Standing up against racial abuse, he was met with violence instead of support."
Another commented, "A young man from Tripura was stabbed in Dehradun after objecting to racist abuse and died after days in hospital while the main accused is still on the run and protests now demand an anti racism law."
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Why does this case matter?
Angel Chakma’s death has gone beyond one tragic incident. It has highlighted the everyday discrimination faced by people from the Northeast across India.
His final act was standing up against racial abuse and asserting his identity as an Indian, and that has struck a deep chord, especially among students and young people living away from home. The case has once again raised urgent questions about racism, accountability, and the safety of marginalised communities in the country.
Many are now demanding justice, not just for Angel Chakma, but for every individual who faces hate and violence simply because of where they come from.
