Tripura Student Killing: Last Accused Traced in Nepal; CM Dhami Assures Father of Strict Action Over Phone Call

After the murder of Tripura student Anjel Chakma in Dehradun, the case has remained in continuous discussion. Acting promptly, the police have arrested five of the six accused. A warrant has been issued against the absconding accused, Yagya Awasthi, and a reward of ₹25,000 has been announced for information leading to his arrest. According to police sources, the main accused is being traced in Nepal. However, presenting this sensitive case in a manner that suggests students from the Northeast are unsafe in North India or face racial discrimination is not only factually misleading but also harmful to social harmony.

The Chief Minister of the state, Pushkar Singh Dhami, spoke to the father of the deceased student over the phone and assured him of a thorough investigation into the heinous crime.

Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami described the incident as heinous and made it clear that no leniency would be shown at any level against the culprits. He directed the authorities to arrest all the accused at the earliest and also spoke with the Tripura Chief Minister to ensure justice for the victim’s family.

What is the full matter?

The deceased, Angel Chakma (24), was an MBA student at Dehradun University. On December 9, Angel and his brother were involved in a clash with the 22-year-old accused, Suraj Khwas, a native of Manipur, and his five associates. Angel was seriously injured and admitted to a hospital, where he died on December 26.

Angel’s Father Alleges Attack

Angel’s father, Tarun Chakma, alleged that the attackers used “racial slurs” against his son and called him Chinese. He told PTI that the assailants referred to his son as “Chinese momo” and used several other racial insults. Angel told them that he is “Indian, not Chinese.” The attackers then assaulted Chakma with a sharp knife. It is worth noting that Angel’s father serves in the Border Security Force (BSF) and is posted in Manipur.

The police say that the initial FIR does not establish any kind of racial intent.

Names of the arrested accused

Avinash Negi (25) Sumit (25) Suraj Khwas (25) Shaurya (18) Ayush Badoni (18)

The search for the absconding accused, Yagya Awasthi, is ongoing. The police had initially registered a case under Sections 115(2), 118, and 351(3) of the Bhartiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), which was later strengthened under Sections 103(1) (murder) and 3(5) (joint liability).

CM Dhami spoke to his father over the phone

Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami spoke on the phone with the father of the deceased student and expressed his sorrow over Angel’s murder. The CM said that such an atmosphere has never existed in Uttarakhand, as children from across the country and abroad come here to study. He added that this incident is painful for everyone. Strict action will be taken in this case. We stand firmly with your entire family.

“Strictest action is necessary against the accused involved in such violent incidents, so that the victim’s family receives justice and the law sends a clear message. However, using a criminal act as a ‘toolkit’ to create a narrative of racism across the entire state is inappropriate and condemnable. Interpretations that go beyond the facts may deepen social divides rather than bridge them.”

It is noteworthy that for many years, New Delhi has taken concrete initiatives to ensure the safety, dialogue, and inclusion of students and working youth from the Northeast across the country. In the tragic incident in Dehradun, where the police state that there is no evidence of racial intent at the preliminary stage, using it as a basis to incite racism or to portray an irreparable divide between North India and the Northeast could undermine the progress made so far.