Daijiworld Media Network - New Delhi
New Delhi, Dec 30: The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) has issued a notice to the Dehradun District Magistrate and the Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) in connection with the alleged racially motivated killing of a student from Tripura in Uttarakhand’s capital.
The rights panel has directed the authorities to conduct a thorough inquiry into the allegations and submit an action taken report within seven days. It has also sought copies of the case proceedings to be forwarded to the Uttarakhand Chief Secretary and the Director General of Police.
In its directive, the NHRC has further asked the state authorities to ensure the safety and security of students from the North Eastern region across Uttarakhand.
The victim, Anjel Chakma (24), a final-year MBA student at a private university in Dehradun, was allegedly attacked by a group of youths on December 9. He succumbed to his injuries on December 26 after undergoing treatment for 17 days.
Anjel’s father, a Border Security Force (BSF) jawan currently posted in Manipur’s Tengnoupal district, alleged that his son was “brutally attacked” while trying to protect his younger brother, who was allegedly subjected to racial slurs.
According to the complaint, the assailants allegedly referred to the brothers as “Chinese momo” and abused them. When Anjel asserted that he was an Indian citizen and not Chinese, the attackers allegedly assaulted him with knives and blunt objects.
Taking cognisance of the matter under Section 12 of the Protection of Human Rights Act, 1993, an NHRC bench headed by member Priyank Kanoongo observed that the allegations prima facie indicate a serious violation of human rights.
The complaint states that the student was targeted with racial slurs and assaulted after asserting his identity as an Indian citizen, terming the incident a “racially motivated” crime. It further noted that the case has triggered nationwide outrage and highlights deep-rooted racial discrimination against people from the North East, along with alleged lapses by local authorities in preventing such violence.
The complainant has sought urgent intervention, accountability and systemic measures to prevent hate-based crimes against students studying outside their home states.
On Monday, Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami spoke to the victim’s father and assured that those responsible would face strict punishment.
Meanwhile, political leaders across party lines have called for comprehensive measures to curb hate crimes and ensure the safety and dignity of people from the northeastern states.