A tragic incident in Dehradun has sparked outrage and calls for justice after 24-year-old Angel Chakma, a final-year MBA student from Tripura's Unakoti district, succumbed to injuries on December 26, 2025, following a brutal assault on December 9. The attack, alleged by the victim's family to involve racial slurs, including being called "Chinese," occurred at Selakui market, where Angel and his younger brother Michael argued with Suraj Khawas (22), originally from Manipur but residing in Dehradun, and five associates. The group reportedly attacked Angel with knives, brass knuckles, and other weapons, inflicting severe head, neck, back, and spinal injuries that required prolonged hospital treatment at Graphic Era Hospital before his death.

Nagaland Minister Temjen Imna Along strongly condemned the alleged racial attack on December 29, emphasizing the unity of India's Northeastern states. In his statement from Itanagar, he asserted that the Northeast is an "inseparable and integral part of India," urging people to "think before speaking" and avoid derogatory remarks. Referencing the phrase "We Are Not Momo"—a pointed rejection of stereotypical or mocking labels often applied to Northeasterners—the minister highlighted cultural differences while stressing shared Indian identity, saying, "Yes, our characters are different—we are from Nagaland, Manipur, and Tripura—but we are an integral part of India." His remarks came amid growing concerns over persistent racial prejudice faced by people from the Northeast in other parts of the country.

Police have arrested five suspects, including Suraj Khawas, Avinash Negi, Sumit, and two juveniles, while one accused, a Nepali national, remains absconding, prompting a Rs 25,000 reward and a team dispatched to Nepal for his capture. Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami expressed deep grief, assured strict action, and spoke directly with Angel's father, Tarun Chakma, a Border Security Force personnel posted in Manipur. Tripura Chief Minister Manik Saha also engaged with Dhami for justice, while protests erupted in Tripura, including candlelight marches by student groups demanding better protection for Northeastern students and anti-racial violence measures.

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The case has reignited national discussions on racism and safety for students from the Northeast studying in mainland India, with Angel's death highlighting ongoing vulnerabilities despite India's constitutional unity. As investigations continue with murder charges added to the FIR, the incident serves as a somber reminder of the need for greater awareness, sensitivity, and legal safeguards to prevent such hate-driven violence in diverse societies.

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