A tragic incident in Dehradun has claimed the life of 24-year-old Angel Chakma, a final-year MBA student from Tripura, who succumbed to his injuries on December 25, 2025, at Graphic Era Hospital, 16 days after being brutally attacked. The assault occurred on the evening of December 9 when Angel and his younger brother, Michael Chakma (21), a student at Uttaranchal University, were shopping for household items near a liquor shop in the Selaqui area. According to the FIR filed by Michael on December 12, a group of six allegedly intoxicated local men began hurling racial slurs at the brothers, including derogatory terms such as “Chinki,” “Chinese,” “Nepali,” and “momos,” mocking their appearance and Northeast Indian heritage. When Angel objected to the abuse, the attackers turned violent, striking Michael on the head with an iron kada (bangle) and stabbing Angel multiple times in the head, neck, back, and abdomen.

Police have arrested five of the six accused—Avinash Negi (25), Suraj Khwas (21, originally from Manipur), Sumit Kumar (25), Shaurya Rajput (18), and Ayush Badoni (18)—all residents of Selaqui, including two school students. The primary accused, Yagya (or Yash) Awasthi, reportedly fled across the border to Nepal and remains at large. Initially registered under sections related to assault, the case has been upgraded to murder following Angel’s death. Dehradun Senior Superintendent of Police Ajay Singh confirmed the arrests and stated that a manhunt is underway for the fugitive, while Selaqui police station in-charge PD Bhatt noted the attack took place outside a liquor shop.

Angel Chakma, a resident of Nandanagar in Tripura’s Unakoti district and the son of a serving Border Security Force (BSF) jawan posted in the Northeast, fought for his life in the ICU before succumbing to severe head and neck injuries. His father has since transported the body back to their hometown for last rites. In his complaint, Michael expressed fears of further retaliation, alleging the accused were “influential persons” who could threaten him and his family. The incident has sparked widespread outrage across the Northeastern states, with Tipra Motha Party founder Pradyot Bikram Manikya Debbarma condemning the attack on social media, stating, “While the whole world was celebrating Christmas, we lost Angel Chakma… we demand justice.”

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The killing has once again brought to the forefront the persistent issue of racial discrimination and violence faced by people from the Northeast in other parts of India, often triggered by stereotypes about their appearance and culture. Community leaders and student organizations have called for a thorough, transparent investigation and stricter measures against hate crimes. Authorities have assured that the case will be pursued rigorously, but many from the region emphasize the urgent need for greater awareness, sensitivity, and legal safeguards to protect students and professionals from the Northeast studying or working away from home.

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