The tragic killing of a youth from Tripura in Dehradun has taken an emotional turn as the victim's brother, in a heartfelt social media appeal, has asked for privacy to grieve. This comes even as the Dehradun police stated they are open to reviewing fresh statements from the family regarding allegations that racial abuse preceded the fatal assault.
A Brother's Heartbreaking Plea for Space
In a video montage shared on Tuesday evening, Michael Chakma, who witnessed his elder brother Anjel Chakma's killing, made an emotional request to media houses. He urged them to stop seeking interviews, stating he was exhausted and needed time to process the immense loss.
"I respectfully request all media houses, television channels and journalists to please stop pressuring me for interviews or explanations," Michael said in his post. "I spoke to some media outlets, but at this moment, I am completely exhausted. I lost my brother, and I am still trying to accept the unbearable loss."
He emphasized his need for solitude, adding, "I am not in a position to speak further and relive this pain again and again. I need time and space for me and my family to grieve, to breathe, and to begin healing." He concluded his message with the poignant words, "I love you mere bhai."
Police Re-examine Racial Slur Allegations
The incident dates back to December 9, when Anjel Chakma was stabbed during an altercation in a public area of Dehradun. He later succumbed to his injuries on December 26. Michael was the lone eyewitness.
Initially, the police investigation, led by Senior Superintendent of Police Ajai Singh, ruled out a racial angle. On Monday, Singh stated that their probe so far did not indicate the use of racial slurs during the attack on Anjel and Michael. He suggested the incident happened in the heat of the moment in a busy place, and remarks exchanged among the six accused were mistakenly thought to be directed at the Chakma brothers.
However, in a significant shift, police have now said they are willing to examine any new statements from the family on this allegation. This comes after Michael and his father, Tarun Chakma—a Border Security Force head constable—told media that the attackers hurled slurs like "Chinese, Chinki and Momo." The family claims the brothers objected to these remarks, which escalated into the assault.
Contradictions and the Ongoing Manhunt
SSP Ajai Singh maintained that the police version was based on current evidence. "The investigation so far suggests no racial slurs were hurled. The derogatory comments were passed between the accused in a lighter vein," he explained, citing crowd noise as a cause for confusion.
He also pointed out a discrepancy, noting that Michael's original complaint mentioned "casteist slurs" but did not specifically cite racial terms. "The family remained in Dehradun till Dec 27 but did not tell police about racial slurs. If they are now saying this to media, we are not aware of it," Singh said. He assured that police would include fresh claims if formally shared by the family.
Meanwhile, the police have formed a Special Investigation Team (SIT) to trace and arrest the lone absconding accused, identified as Yagya Awasthi. He is alleged to have stabbed Anjel with a knife picked up from a nearby egg stall. The case continues to unfold as the community seeks justice and the bereaved family pleads for peace.
