Rahul Gandhi Slams BJP Over Racial Killing of Tripura Student in Dehradun

Rahul Gandhi on Monday strongly condemned the killing of a Tripura student in Dehradun, calling it a horrific hate crime and blaming the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party for creating an environment where such violence has become normalised.

The Congress leader was reacting to the death of 24-year-old Anjel Chakma, an MBA student from West Tripura, who was fatally assaulted following a racial attack earlier this month. The incident, which occurred on December 9, led to widespread outrage after the victim succumbed to his injuries on December 26.

In a social media post, Rahul Gandhi said that hate crimes do not emerge suddenly but are cultivated over time through toxic narratives and irresponsible messaging, particularly targeting young people. He stated that India is founded on unity, diversity and mutual respect, and warned against becoming a society that ignores violence against its own citizens.

According to police, Anjel Chakma and his brother were targeted with racial slurs at a canteen near a liquor outlet in Dehradun. When the brothers objected, the confrontation escalated into a violent assault involving knives and blunt objects. Anjel sustained critical injuries, while his brother was also hurt while trying to intervene.

The victim’s family alleged that the attackers repeatedly used racial slurs and questioned Anjel’s Indian identity before launching the assault. Five of the six accused have been arrested so far, while one suspect remains absconding. Police have announced a cash reward for information leading to his arrest and are coordinating with authorities across borders to trace him.

Responding to the incident, Pushkar Singh Dhami said such acts were unacceptable and assured strict action against those responsible. He emphasised that the state government would not tolerate any threat to law and order and had directed the police to ensure swift action.

Tripura Chief Minister Manik Saha described the incident as deeply tragic and said he had been assured of firm action by the Uttarakhand government. He added that steps were being taken to ensure justice for the victim’s family.