30th December 2025
The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) has issued a notice to the District Magistrate (DM) and Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) of Dehradun in connection with the alleged racially motivated killing of a student from Tripura in Uttarakhand’s capital. The incident has sparked widespread outrage across the country, with leaders across political parties urging strong and coordinated action to curb hate crimes against people from India’s northeastern states.
Taking suo motu cognisance of the matter under Section 12 of the Protection of Human Rights Act, 1993, an NHRC bench headed by member Priyank Kanoongo has directed the Dehradun administration to conduct a thorough inquiry into the allegations. The Commission has sought a detailed action-taken report within seven days. It has also instructed that copies of the case proceedings be forwarded to the Uttarakhand Chief Secretary and the Director General of Police for further oversight.
The victim, Anjel Chakma, 24, was a final-year MBA student at a private university in Dehradun. He was allegedly attacked on December 9 by a group of local youths using knives and blunt objects, including a bracelet. After battling critical injuries for 17 days, Anjel succumbed on December 26 while undergoing treatment in a hospital.
According to the complaint submitted to the NHRC, the attack was racially motivated. Anjel’s father, a Border Security Force (BSF) jawan currently posted in Tangjeng, Manipur, stated that his son was assaulted when he attempted to protect his younger brother, who was allegedly being abused with racial slurs. The father alleged that Anjel tried to reason with the attackers, asserting that he was Indian and not Chinese, but was nevertheless subjected to a brutal assault.
The NHRC proceedings note that the student was allegedly targeted with racial abuse and attacked after asserting his identity as an Indian citizen. The complainant approached the Commission seeking urgent intervention, accountability, and systemic safeguards to prevent similar hate-driven incidents in the future. The Commission observed that the allegations, on their face, indicate serious violations of the victim’s fundamental human rights.
Describing the incident as one that has triggered nationwide concern, the NHRC stated that it reflects deep-seated racial discrimination against people from the North-East, lapses in preventive policing, and inadequate protection mechanisms for students studying outside their home states. Along with seeking a prompt investigation, the Commission has also directed authorities to ensure the safety and security of students from the northeastern region across Uttarakhand.
The complainant has maintained that the incident constitutes a grave violation of the victim’s right to life, dignity, and equality guaranteed under the Constitution.
