Agartala, Dec 31: The Tipra Indigenous Students Federation (TISF) on Wednesday alleged that the Uttarakhand Police investigation into the death of Angel Chakma was misleading and aimed at diluting the racial dimension of the crime.
Expressing dissatisfaction with the police statement, TISF president Sajra Debbarma said the investigation appeared to be an attempt to deny justice to the victim by downplaying the role of racial abuse.
“We are not satisfied with the Uttarakhand Police statement. It is misleading and seems designed to cover up the racial abuse that people from the Northeast face regularly in other parts of India,” Debbarma said.
He objected to the police claim that the incident had no racial connection, noting that authorities had highlighted that one accused belonged to Manipur and another absconding accused was from Nepal.
“This is completely misleading. After verification with our brothers in Manipur, we want to clarify that the accused said to be from Manipur is not an indigenous Manipuri. He merely resides there and is a non-indigenous person, belonging to a Brahmin community originally from Bihar,” Debbarma alleged.
He further claimed that the accused carried the same “provocative and discriminatory mindset” often directed against people from the Northeast.
Referring to the Nepalese accused, Debbarma said nationality was irrelevant to the core issue.
“The question is not where the accused come from, but how they perceive us. Racial slurs are based on looks. We are tribals, and they are not—and that difference alone is enough for them to target us,” he said.
Debbarma emphasised that tribal communities from the Northeast face discrimination primarily because of their physical appearance.
“Non-tribal communities living in the Northeast rarely face such discrimination because they do not look like us. We are Indians, but many still see us as outsiders,” he added.
Alleging deliberate misdirection, the TISF president accused the Uttarakhand Police of attempting to minimise the gravity of the crime.
“It is shameful that such a tragic incident occurred within their jurisdiction, and instead of ensuring justice, they appear to be trying to close the case and reduce the punishment for the accused,” he said.
TISF appealed to the central government and Uttarakhand authorities to act impartially.
“We urge the government not to play political games. We want justice for Angel Chakma and his family. The voices demanding justice are growing, and the authorities must act immediately,” Debbarma said.
Angel Chakma, a 24-year-old MBA student from Tripura, died on December 26, 2025, after succumbing to injuries sustained in an alleged racially motivated attack in Dehradun.
The incident reportedly occurred on December 9 at a canteen in Selaqui, where Angel and his brother, Michael Chakma, were allegedly subjected to racial slurs. When they asserted their Indian identity, a group of men allegedly assaulted them using blunt objects and knives.
So far, five suspects have been arrested, while the prime accused, Yagya Awasthi, remains absconding. The incident has triggered nationwide outrage, with widespread calls for stricter laws to address racial discrimination and ensure the safety of students from the Northeast.
 on Wednesday alleged that the Uttarakhand Police investigation into the death of Angel Chakma was misleading and aimed at diluting the racial dimension of the crime.){kind=link}