Senior Congress leader Shashi Tharoor has voiced strong condemnation following the tragic death of a young student from Tripura, linking the incident to a disturbing rise in racial prejudice in parts of North India. The student, Angel Chakma, succumbed to injuries sustained during a brutal assault that was reportedly fueled by ethnic slurs.
A Life Cut Short: The Attack on Angel Chakma
Angel Chakma, a 24-year-old MBA student at a private university in Uttarakhand, fought for his life for 17 days in a hospital before passing away on Friday, December 26. The chain of events that led to this tragedy began on the evening of December 9 in Dehradun.
Chakma was out with his younger brother, Michael, when they were confronted by a group of six individuals. What started as a verbal argument rapidly spiraled into a violent physical and racial attack. The brothers were allegedly subjected to abusive slurs like "Chinese" and "momo," terms often used derogatorily against people from India's northeastern states.
Political Outcry and Arrests in the Case
Expressing his grief and anger on social media platform X, Shashi Tharoor stated that the incident was "shocking, and deeply shameful." He emphasized that racism in North India is often masked by casual mockery or systemic neglect. Tharoor asserted that Chakma was stripped of his dignity through racial abuse before being killed, framing the act not as random violence but as a consequence of deep-seated prejudice and a failure to respect India's diversity.
On the legal front, law enforcement has taken action. Police have arrested five men involved in the case and sent them to judicial custody. One suspect remains at large. Authorities have announced a reward of ₹25,000 for information leading to the arrest of the absconding accused and have reportedly sent a team to Nepal in pursuit, according to PTI reports. Two of the individuals initially involved in the confrontation were juveniles.
The Broader Implications of Systemic Prejudice
This incident has reignited a critical conversation about the safety and dignity of citizens from India's northeastern regions living in other parts of the country. Tharoor's comments highlight a perceived pattern where racial bias, whether through overt aggression or subtle neglect, continues to pose a threat to the idea of an inclusive India. The death of Angel Chakma stands as a somber reminder of the urgent need for greater social awareness, education against prejudice, and stringent legal action to protect every citizen's right to life and equality, irrespective of their ethnic origin or appearance.
