Urgent Action Demanded for Northeast Student's Death in Dehradun
A tragic incident has sparked outrage and calls for justice across North East India. On 9th December, Angel Chakma, a 24-year-old student from Tripura, was brutally assaulted and stabbed in Dehradun, Uttarakhand. He succumbed to his injuries on 26th December after a two-week battle for life in the hospital. His brother, Michael Chakma, was also attacked during the incident.
Incident Alleged to be Racially Motivated
The North East Students Organisation (NESO), an umbrella body of student organizations from all Northeastern states, has alleged that the attack was racially motivated. The victims were subjected to derogatory and demeaning racial abuse targeting their physical features. Such incidents, according to NESO, are part of a recurring pattern of harassment and violence faced by people from the Northeast in different parts of the country.
Urgent Steps for Safety and Security
In response to the incident, the NESO has demanded urgent steps to ensure the safety of students and residents from the region in Dehradun and across Uttarakhand. They have urged the state government to implement effective measures to provide mental, social, and physical security through appropriate authorities. Apart from capital punishment for the perpetrators, the organization has demanded the establishment of at least one special police station to deal exclusively with cases of racial discrimination and atrocities against people from the Northeast.
Call for Stringent Anti-Racism Law and Review of Existing Policies
The NESO has also called for the enactment of a stringent anti-racism law, stating that the existing legal framework is inadequate to address crimes rooted in racial and ethnic discrimination. They have urged the Centre and all state governments to seriously review and effectively implement the recommendations of the MP Bezbaruah Committee, constituted after earlier incidents of racial violence, and to further strengthen sensitisation, awareness, and policing mechanisms across the country.
Northeast Region Shares Concerns and Solidarity
The Himalayan Suraksha Manch, Arunachal Pradesh (HSM-AP) has expressed deep anguish and strongly condemned the brutal killing of the student. They view the incident as not merely a failure of law and order but a disturbing reflection of the continued racial discrimination, hatred, and violence faced by people from the Northeast in different parts of the country.
The HSM-AP has urged the Uttarakhand government to ensure speedy and exemplary punishment for all those involved in the heinous crime, including the accused who has absconded. They have also urged the Centre and all state governments to strengthen sensitisation, awareness, and policing mechanisms to prevent such incidents.
A Call for Justice and Prevention
As we mourn the loss of Angel Chakma, it is crucial that justice is served, and such incidents are prevented from happening again. The North East region, with its diverse culture and people, deserves to live in a country where they are treated with dignity and respect. The tragic incident in Dehradun is a call to action for all of us to work towards a more inclusive and harmonious India.