Attack on Tripura student killed in Dehradun not racially motivated, says top cop: 'Remarks made in jest ...'

Anjel Chakma succumbed to his injuries on December 26.

The violent attack on Tripura MBA student Anjel Chakma in Dehradun did not have a racial motive, police officials probing the case said. Offensive remarks, they said, allegedly intended as jokes led to a misunderstanding and created the impression that the student was being targeted.

"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," Ajay Singh, Senior Superintendent of Police, Dehradun, said.

According to Singh, a group of men seated together were exchanging derogatory remarks among themselves but the Chakma brothers assumed the comments were aimed at them. "It was in this confusion that the clash occurred, and this entire incident resulted from that clash," he said.

Anjel and his brother Michel were involved in an argument with a group of local men and another individual from the northeast, who allegedly hurled racial slurs. After the brothers protested, the confrontation escalated into a violent clash, during which they were reportedly assaulted with knives and other blunt weapons. The incident took place on December 9 in Dehradun's Selakui area.

While Michael was struck on the head, Anjel was stabbed in the neck and abdomen. Anjel died on December 26 after undergoing treatment for 17 days at Graphic Era Hospital.

Rejecting claims that the attack was racially motivated, SSP Singh said that the group of boys had no such intention, nor had there ever been any fight or argument between them. "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," he added.

Uttarakhand Police have so far arrested five individuals in connection with the attack - Suraj Khwas (22) from Manipur, Avinash Negi (25), and Sumit (25) and two juveniles. Another accused is reportedly absconding in Nepal. A reward of Rs 25,000 has been announced for information leading to the arrest of the fugitive, and a team has been dispatched to Nepal in an effort to bring him to justice.