Students from the Northeast held a candlelight march in Dehradun on Wednesday, demanding justice for 24-year-old Anjel Chakma from Tripura, who died after being allegedly attacked earlier this month.
The protesters raised slogans against what they described as racial discrimination and called for a fair and thorough investigation into the case.
The march was organised under the banner of the Unified Tripura Students Association (UTSA).
Students from several educational institutions gathered outside Gandhi Park before marching to Ghantaghar, carrying candles and placards. Some students from other states also joined the protest in solidarity.
Holding banners bearing Chakma’s photograph, the protesters shouted slogans such as “Stop Racism”, “We Are Indians” and “We Want Justice”.
UTSA Dehradun general secretary Churanta Tripura alleged that the police were attempting to downplay the incident and were reluctant to treat it as a case involving racial discrimination.
He further claimed that police personnel asked the students to halt the march, citing traffic concerns due to New Year celebrations in the city.
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Chakma, a final-year MBA student at a private university in Dehradun, was allegedly attacked with a knife and a brass knuckle by a group of youths on December 9.
He sustained serious injuries and died on December 26 after remaining hospitalised for 17 days.
While Chakma’s family and fellow students have alleged that the assault was preceded by racist remarks, Dehradun police have said their investigation so far has not found evidence suggesting racial discrimination.
Dehradun Senior Superintendent of Police Ajay Singh said the city attracts students from across the country, including a large number from the Northeast.
He added that more than 2,000 students from northeastern states are currently studying in Dehradun, with around 250 students from Tripura alone.
