Dehradun death not racial attack? Police say derogatory remarks at Tripura student made in jest
On December 10, Angel and Michael were in the market when six people on motorcycles and a scooter stopped near them. The accused pushed Michael to the ground, prompting Angel to intervene
New Delhi: The death of Tripura student Anjel Chakma in Dehradun, allegedly due to racial discrimination and lynching, has taken the country by storm. However, a report by NDTV quoting a senior police official says that the attack on Chakma was not a racial one and the police think that the derogatory remarks made "in jest", not targeting the student.
What has the police said?
Ajay Singh, Senior Superintendent of Police, Dehradun, told NDTV, "It doesn't fall into the category of a racist comment because a young man involved in the incident is also a resident of the same state."
He further said, "Some derogatory remarks were being exchanged among themselves by a group of people sitting together, and somehow the impression was created that the comments were being directed at them. It was in this confusion that the clash occurred, and this entire incident resulted from that clash."
Was the attack racially motivated?
Regarding the alleged racial motive behind the attack, Singh reportedly said, "They didn't know each other beforehand, they had no such intention, nor had there ever been any fight or argument between them. The fight broke out between strangers, and one of the boys from the northeast himself admitted during interrogation that the comments were not directed at anyone else; they were simply making those remarks among themselves in jest.
How did the student die?
On December 10, Angel and Michael were in the market when six people on motorcycles and a scooter stopped near them. The accused pushed Michael to the ground, prompting Angel to intervene. The group allegedly hurled abuses and racial slurs before attacking Angel with sharp objects and a heavy iron bracelet, known as a kadaa. Angel sustained severe injuries to his neck and back and was rushed to the hospital. He died on December 27.
A father's demand for justice
His father, Tarun Chakma, is a BSF jawan posted in Manipur. Tarun said his son was "brutally attacked” with knives and blunt objects, with the attackers allegedly calling Angel and Michael "Chinese,” even though the former told them he was Indian. Tarun said Angel’s neck was broken in the attack, which resulted in his death. Blaming the police for delaying proceedings, he demanded strict punishment for the perpetrators.