Rahul Gandhi Calls Dehradun Killing of Tripura Student a ‘Horrific Hate Crime’, Targets BJP
New Delhi: Congress leader and Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha, Rahul Gandhi, on Monday strongly condemned the killing of Tripura student Anjel Chakma in Dehradun, describing the incident as a “horrific hate crime” and accusing the BJP of fostering an environment where such violence is becoming normalised.
In a post shared on social media platform X, Gandhi alleged that the fatal attack was the outcome of years of “toxic content and irresponsible narratives” that have been allowed to spread unchecked. He claimed that hatred does not develop overnight and warned that it is increasingly being fed to young people, with political leadership failing to curb it.
“India stands for unity, respect, and diversity — not fear and abuse,” Gandhi wrote. He urged citizens to reflect on the kind of society the country is becoming and said it must not turn into one that remains silent while fellow Indians are targeted. Expressing solidarity with the victim’s family, he said the people of Tripura and the Northeast are an integral part of India.
The incident dates back to December 9, when Anjel Chakma and his brother Michael, both students from Tripura, were allegedly assaulted in Dehradun’s Premnagar area. According to police, the brothers were attacked with knives and blunt objects following an argument with a group of local youths and another individual from the Northeast. Anjel later succumbed to his injuries on December 26 while undergoing treatment at a private hospital.
Dehradun Superintendent of Police (City) Pramod Kumar stated that an FIR was registered soon after the incident. Five accused have been arrested so far, while one suspect — reportedly a Nepalese national — is absconding. Authorities have announced a reward for information leading to his arrest.
Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami expressed condolences to the Chakma family and assured strict action against those responsible. He personally spoke with Anjel’s father, Tarun Prasad Chakma, and said the state government would provide all possible support. Dhami also emphasized that Uttarakhand has traditionally been a safe destination for students from across India and abroad, calling the incident deeply distressing.
Following the attack, Dhami said he coordinated with Tripura Chief Minister Manik Saha, Union Home Minister Amit Shah, and Defence Minister Rajnath Singh to ensure swift justice. Manik Saha later confirmed that he had been assured of firm action by the Uttarakhand government.
Meanwhile, members of the Tipra Indigenous Students Federation (TISF), the student wing of the Tipra Motha Party, held a candlelight march in Agartala on Sunday, demanding justice for Anjel Chakma, who hailed from Nandanagar in Tripura.