Tripura student’s death sparks candlelight protest by Northeast students in Dehradun

Guwahati: Students from the Northeast staged a candlelight march in Dehradun on December 31 to protest the killing of 24-year-old Tripura resident Anjel Chakma and to press for justice, amid allegations of racial discrimination.

The Unified Tripura Students Association (UTSA) organised the protest, which drew students from several educational institutions across the city. Participants gathered at Gandhi Park and marched with candles to Ghantaghar, Dehradun’s central clock tower.

Carrying placards with Chakma’s photograph, the protesters raised slogans such as “Stop Racism”, “We Are Indians” and “We Want Justice”, alleging that students from the Northeast routinely face discrimination. Students from other states also joined the march in solidarity.

UTSA Dehradun general secretary Churanta Tripura alleged that the police were downplaying the incident by refusing to treat it as a case of racial violence. He further claimed that police asked the protesters to disperse, citing traffic congestion linked to New Year celebrations, which, he said, compounded students’ resentment.

Chakma, a final-year MBA student at a private university in Dehradun, suffered critical injuries after a group of youths allegedly attacked him with a knife and a brass knuckle on December 9. He died on December 26 after remaining hospitalised for 17 days.

Family members and friends have maintained that the assault followed racist remarks. Dehradun police, however, have denied any racial motive. Senior Superintendent of Police Ajay Singh said the investigation has so far found no evidence of racial discrimination.

Singh said Dehradun hosts students from across the country, including more than 2,000 from the Northeast, of whom around 250 are from Tripura.