Agartala: The family of Anjel Chakma, a young man from Unakoti district who was fatally attacked in Dehradun, has demanded capital punishment—or at the very least, life imprisonment—for all those responsible for his murder.

Anjel, who had completed his graduation from Holy Cross School in Agartala, had traveled to Dehradun to pursue an MBA when the tragic incident occurred. He was stabbed twice in the back and suffered a broken neck in the attack, which took place in front of his younger brother, Michael. He battled for his life for 17 days but ultimately succumbed to his injuries.

“We will never get back Anjel, but his family wants capital punishment or at least life term imprisonment for those involved in the gruesome murder,” said Momen Chakma, Anjel’s maternal uncle. He also called on the government to take steps to ensure that people from the Northeast do not face racial hate crimes.

Anjel’s family plans to hold a candle march in Machmara on Tuesday in his memory, seeking justice for the young man whose life was brutally cut short.

Momen Chakma described Anjel as a diligent and ambitious student. He had recently completed his final semester and was about to join a company, having received a placement offer due to his first-year academic performance, which had been exceptional with 80 percent marks. “He had told his father, Tarun Prasad Chakma, a BSF jawan posted in Manipur, to take voluntary retirement once he secured a job,” Momen added.

The family has been devastated not only emotionally but also financially. Anjel’s father had purchased a new home on the outskirts of Agartala at Nandannagar with a substantial loan, while Anjel himself had taken an educational loan to pursue his MBA in Dehradun. “Everything is lost now,” Momen said, highlighting the financial strain following the tragedy.

Momen also shared the personal dreams Anjel had yet to fulfill. One of his last wishes was to travel to Nepal to witness snowfall. He had even ordered special shoes for the trip, which were received by the family while Anjel was in the ICU. Momen expressed his intent to fulfill this last wish on Anjel’s behalf.

Anjel’s parents and younger brother are undergoing ‘Sarema,’ a week-long Buddhist mourning ritual, at a local temple, while his mother, Gouri Mati Chakma, remains in shock. The family’s grief underscores the devastating personal and social impact of the crime, as well as the broader concerns of racial safety for people from the Northeast living elsewhere in India.

The tragic incident has sparked calls for stringent legal action against the accused, reflecting both the family’s grief and their demand for justice in the face of a senseless and violent attack.