Outrage continued to intensify on Monday over the murder of a 24-year-old student from Tripura in Dehradun, even as Uttarakhand police maintained that they have found no evidence to link the crime to racial hatred. The killing has sparked protests in Tripura, drawn sharp political reactions across party lines, and reignited a national debate on the safety of people from India’s northeastern states living and studying elsewhere in the country.

The victim, Anjel Chakma, a resident of Agartala, was pursuing an MBA at a private university in Uttarakhand. He succumbed to his injuries on December 26 after being assaulted earlier this month in Dehradun. According to the family and witnesses, the attack followed an altercation in which Anjel allegedly objected to racial slurs hurled at him and his younger brother, Michael Chakma. While the family and several political leaders have described the incident as a hate crime, the police have said the investigation so far does not support allegations of racism.

The incident and investigation

The assault took place on December 9 at a canteen area in Dehradun, where Anjel and his brother were allegedly confronted by a group of five to six people. Anjel sustained serious injuries and was hospitalised. Despite medical treatment, his condition deteriorated, and he died on December 26. A post-mortem examination was conducted the same day, though the report is still awaited.

An FIR in the case was registered on December 12 at the Selaqui police station. According to Uttarakhand police, a preliminary examination suggests that Anjel suffered blows to the head and back with a sharp object and a “kadaa” (metal bracelet) during a quarrel. Police have stated that the altercation escalated into violence, resulting in fatal injuries.

Michael Chakma (21), Anjel’s younger brother, told police that the accused were intoxicated at the time of the incident and had used racial slurs before stabbing his brother. His statement has formed the basis of the family’s allegation that the murder was racially motivated.

However, on Monday, Selaqui police station in-charge PD Bhatt dismissed these allegations. “We have found no evidence so far to link the incident with racism. There is no basis for such allegations,” Bhatt said, adding that the investigation has not uncovered material proof of racial abuse.

Arrests and accused

So far, police have arrested three accused: Suraj Khwas (22), a resident of Manipur, and two local residents, Avinash Negi (25) and Sumit (25). In addition, two minors allegedly involved in the incident have been sent to a juvenile correctional home. Police have said another accused is believed to have fled to his hometown in Nepal, and efforts are underway to trace and apprehend him.

The involvement of an accused from Manipur has complicated the narrative of the case, with police stressing that the crime should not be prematurely labelled as racially motivated without conclusive evidence.

Family’s response and allegations of lapses

Anjel Chakma’s family has strongly contested the police’s position. His maternal uncle, Momen Chakma, questioned how investigators could expect to find concrete evidence of verbal racial abuse. “How can the police get evidence of verbal abuse?” he asked. “It seems that the police don’t want to cooperate.”

He also raised concerns about what he described as delays and gaps in the investigation. According to him, the incident occurred on December 9, but the FIR was lodged only days later. He further alleged that apart from stab wounds, Anjel suffered severe brain and spinal injuries, pointing to the brutality of the attack. The family has also expressed shock that no bystanders in the busy market area came forward to intervene or rescue Anjel during the assault.

A key question raised by the family and activists is whether the FIR explicitly mentions the alleged racial slurs, an issue that has become central to the debate over whether the case should be treated as a hate crime.

Political reactions and assurances

The incident has drawn reactions from senior leaders across the political spectrum. Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami spoke to Anjel’s father, Tarun Prasad Chakma, and assured him of strict punishment for the accused. Dhami also said he had discussed the matter with Tripura Chief Minister Manik Saha, Union Home Minister Amit Shah, and Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, and promised all possible assistance to the victim’s family from the Uttarakhand government.

The killing has triggered massive protests in parts of Tripura, where demonstrators have demanded justice for Anjel and stronger measures to prevent attacks on people from the Northeast. Political leaders cutting across party lines in the state have called for comprehensive efforts to curb what they describe as growing incidents of hate crimes against northeastern communities.

Jyotiraditya Scindia, Union minister for development of the northeastern region, expressed deep anguish over the incident. In a post on X, he said the attack on Anjel and his brother Michael was “inhuman” and not merely a criminal act but “a profound blow to humanity and sensitivity.” He said he understood the family’s grief and stood with them during the difficult time.

Kiren Rijiju, another Union minister from the Northeast, stressed the urgent need to ensure the safety and protection of people from the region. “There should be protection for the people of the Northeast,” he said, while also lauding the Uttarakhand government for what he described as its vigilance in handling the case.

Opposition criticism

Opposition leaders have been more critical, with several accusing the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) of fostering an environment in which hate crimes are becoming normalised.

Rahul Gandhi, Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha, termed the incident a “horrific hate crime.” In a post on X, he said hate does not appear overnight but is fed over years, particularly to the youth, through toxic content and irresponsible narratives. He accused the BJP leadership at both the state and Centre of normalising such hatred.

Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav also targeted the BJP, saying a divisive mindset was taking lives every day and that elements enjoying political patronage were flourishing “like poisonous weeds.”

Responding to the opposition’s आरोप, Kiren Rijiju urged restraint and said the issue should not be politicised. “Be it the Northeast or any other part of the country, why should anyone from other regions be subjected to such discrimination on the lines of race, religion, caste and looks?” he asked. Emphasising national unity, he said, “We are all Indians. Everyone should be sad with any such incident happening with anyone from any part of the country. This is not a matter on which politics should be done.”

Awaiting answers

As the investigation continues, several questions remain unanswered: whether the FIR records allegations of racial slurs, what the post-mortem report will reveal about the nature of Anjel’s injuries, and whether additional charges related to hate crime will be invoked. For Anjel Chakma’s family and many protesters, the case has come to symbolise broader concerns about safety, discrimination, and accountability. For the police, it remains a criminal investigation that they insist must be guided strictly by evidence.

Until those questions are resolved, the murder of a young student far from home is likely to continue to resonate well beyond Dehradun, keeping the spotlight on how India addresses violence, prejudice, and justice.