The father of a Tripura student who died in Dehradun after being allegedly subjected to a racially charged assault has accused the local police of delaying the registration of a case, saying his son was brutally attacked after objecting to racial slurs.
Angel Chakma, a 24-year-old MBA student at a private university in Dehradun, died on Friday after battling for his life for 17 days.
According to his father, Tarun Chakma, a Border Security Force jawan currently posted in Manipur, the attack took place on December 9 in the Selakui area when Angel tried to defend his younger brother from abuse.
Tarun Chakma alleged that his sons were targeted with racial slurs such as “Chinese” and “Chinese momo” by a group of six men.
He said Angel confronted the attackers, telling them he was Indian, following which he was assaulted with knives and blunt objects.
The injuries to his neck and back, he claimed, proved fatal.
The grieving father said police initially refused to register a complaint and only lodged a first information report two to three days later after pressure from the All India Chakma Students Union and intervention by senior police officials.
Calling the incident a brutal murder, Tarun Chakma said he had lost his son and now sought nothing but justice.
Police, however, said the incident stemmed from a quarrel at a canteen involving five to six people.
According to officials, Angel suffered injuries to his head and back caused by a sharp-edged weapon and a ‘kadaa’ during the altercation.
He was rushed to hospital but succumbed to his injuries during treatment.
Senior Superintendent of Police Ajai Singh said the group was allegedly arguing among themselves when a confrontation occurred, leading to a fight in which Angel was attacked.
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Police said a complaint was received on December 10 and a case was registered, following which an investigation was launched.
Three accused were arrested on December 14, while two minors were detained. Another accused, believed to be a Nepal national, is suspected to have fled the country.
Tarun Chakma recounted that Angel and his brother Michael were in the market when a scooter and a motorcycle carrying six people stopped near them.
He alleged that Michael was pushed to the ground without provocation, and when Angel objected, the group turned on him with verbal abuse before launching the violent attack.
Angel’s last rites were held at his native Machmara village in Tripura’s Unakoti district.
His father said Angel was a final-year MBA student who had also secured a promising job offer, making his death all the more devastating for the family.
