29 December,2025 04:49 PM IST | Itanagar | mid-day online correspondent
Angel Chakma was attacked with knives and brass knuckles and was rushed to hospital with serious injuries. File Pic/PTI
Nagaland Minister Temjen Imna Along on Monday strongly condemned the alleged racial attack on a student from Tripura in Dehradun, asserting that the North-Eastern states are an inseparable and integral part of India, reported the IANS.
Reacting to the incident, the minister said such attacks reflect ignorance and prejudice towards people from the North-East.
The victim, Angel Chakma (24), a resident of Unakoti district in Tripura, was allegedly attacked on December 9 following an argument at Selakui market in Dehradun.
Angel, along with his younger brother Michael Chakma, reportedly had a dispute with Suraj Khawas (22), a resident of Manipur living in Dehradun, and five of his associates, as per the IANS.
According to the police, Angel was attacked with knives and brass knuckles and was rushed to hospital with serious injuries. He later succumbed to his injuries on December 26.
Angel's father, Tarun Chakma, who is currently posted in Manipur with the Border Security Force (BSF), alleged that his son was subjected to racial abuse during the assault.
He claimed the attackers called Angel "Chinese" and used other racial slurs before attacking him.
Condemning the incident, Temjen Imna Along told reporters in Itanagar that people must think before making derogatory remarks.
"I cannot condemn an entire community, but those who committed this act are ignorant and do not understand the people of the North-East. We do not consider ourselves Chinese, and we are not âmomo'. Momo is a dish, and it is very good, but this attitude towards us is wrong," he said, according to the IANS.
He stressed that people from Nagaland, Arunachal Pradesh, Manipur, Tripura and other North-Eastern states are Indians, even though their cultures and appearances may differ.
Police said that five of the six accused, including two juveniles, have been arrested. A reward of Rs 25,000 has been announced for the arrest of the remaining accused, Yagyaraj Awasthi, a resident of Nepal's Kanchanpur district, who is currently absconding, reported the IANS.
A police team has been sent to Nepal to trace and arrest him.
Based on a complaint filed by Michael Chakma on December 12, police initially registered a case under sections 115(2), 118 and 351(3) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) for causing bodily harm and criminal intimidation.
Following Angel's medical report, Section 109 (attempt to murder) was added. After Angel's death, police further invoked Section 103(1) (murder) and Section 3(5) (joint liability) of the BNS.
Apart from Suraj Khawas, the arrested accused have been identified as Avinash Negi (25) and Sumit (25), the news agency reported.
Angel Chakma was a final-year MBA student at a university in Dehradun. His death has triggered widespread condemnation and renewed concerns over racial discrimination and safety of students from the North-East in other parts of the country.
(with IANS inputs)
