UTTRAKHAND : The death of a 24-year-old MBA student, Anjel Chakma, has ignited nationwide condemnation and renewed fierce political debate over hate crimes and minority safety in India. Chakma, an East Indian from Tripura who was set to begin a job with a French multinational, died on December 26 after a brutal attack in Dehradun on December 9.
According to reports, Chakma and his younger brother, Michael, were targeted by a group of six youths who allegedly hurled racial slurs at Michael, questioning their Indian identity and misidentifying them as Chinese. The altercation turned violent, with Anjel being stabbed and beaten with a kada (a type of bangle). He succumbed to his injuries after 17 days in the hospital, while Michael remains in critical condition.
The tragedy has triggered widespread outrage. Human rights organizations and opposition political parties have condemned the attack as a racially motivated hate crime, accusing the police of inaction and operating under political pressure to downplay the incident’s communal nature. In a charged parliamentary session, Congress leader Rahul Gandhi directly blamed the ruling BJP and Prime Minister Narendra Modi, alleging that their “Hindutva and racial ideology” has inspired violence and fanaticism among youth.
The victim’s family and activists are demanding swift justice and a thorough investigation free from political interference. They highlight the case as a chilling example of the dangers faced by ethnic minorities from India’s northeastern states, who are often subjected to racial profiling and violence in other parts of the country. The incident has cast a harsh spotlight on the government’s record on protecting minority communities and curbing mob violence, with critics arguing that inflammatory rhetoric has emboldened extremist elements.
Last week the Christmas celebrations were violently disrupted in India this week as Modi’s Hindutva mobs targeted Christian festive displays in separate incidents, raising fresh concerns over religious intolerance.
In the capital city of Chhattisgarh, Raipur, a pre-Christmas act of vandalism shocked the community. According to reports, a mob of 30 to 40 masked men, armed with wooden sticks, stormed a shopping mall on Wednesday. They systematically tore down and destroyed Christmas decorations and installations that had been set up for the upcoming festival. The attack occurred during a state-wide bandh (shutdown) called to protest unrelated alleged violence. Police have registered a First Information Report (FIR) based on a complaint from mall management, but the perpetrators remain unidentified.
