Guwahati: Police probing the murder of Tripura student Anjel Chakma in Dehradun have rejected allegations that the crime involved racial abuse, even as political leaders and student groups continue to describe the incident as a hate crime.
Dehradun Senior Superintendent of Police Ajay Singh said the investigation has found no evidence of racial slurs triggering the violence. “Both the victim and the accused belong to the Northeast. Therefore, the question of racial abuse does not arise,” Singh said. He added that the accused told police the assault stemmed from a misunderstanding after Anjel and his brother Michael misinterpreted remarks made during a group interaction.
Police have arrested three accused — Avinash Negi (25) of Sahaspur in Dehradun, Suraj Khawas (18) from Manipur currently residing in Patel Nagar, and Sumit (25) of Tilwari in Dehradun. Two minors involved in the incident have been placed in a juvenile home. Another accused, Yagya Raj Awasthi (22), a resident of Kanchanpur in Nepal, remains absconding. Police announced a reward of Rs 25,000 for information leading to his arrest and deployed teams in Haridwar and Nepal to trace him.
The attack took place on December 9, when Anjel suffered grievous injuries. He died on December 26 while undergoing treatment at Graphic Era Hospital, 17 days after the assault.
Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami condemned the killing and said the state would not tolerate such crimes. On December 29, Dhami spoke with Anjel’s father and assured a fair and transparent probe. The Chief Minister’s Office announced immediate financial assistance of Rs 4,12,500 to Anjel’s father, Tarun Prasad Chakma, under provisions of the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act, 1989, and the Protection of Civil Rights Act, 1955.
Anjel’s maternal uncle, Momin Chakma, said the deceased had recently secured a job placement with Decathlon and was preparing to work in either Kolkata or Assam. “After completing his studies, Anjel wanted to support his family. His foremost aim was to help his father, who serves in the BSF, take voluntary retirement,” he said.
Earlier in the day, Congress leader Rahul Gandhi termed the killing a “horrific hate crime” and criticised the BJP-led Uttarakhand government over the incident.