The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) has issued notices to the Dehradun District Magistrate and the Senior Superintendent of Police over the alleged racially motivated killing of a student from Tripura in Uttarakhand. The Commission has asked the authorities to look into the matter and submit an action-taken report within seven days.
The case relates to the death of 24-year-old Anjel (Angel) Chakma, a final-year MBA student at a private university in Dehradun. According to reports, he was attacked on December 9 after an argument, during which racial remarks were allegedly made against his brother. Anjel, who tried to intervene, was reportedly stabbed and assaulted. He remained in hospital for 17 days and passed away on December 26.
His father, a Border Security Force jawan currently posted in Manipur, has alleged that the attack was brutal and that his son was targeted because of his North-Eastern identity. He said Anjel told the attackers that he was Indian and not Chinese, but the violence still continued. 
The NHRC has taken cognisance of the complaint under Section 12 of the Protection of Human Rights Act, 1993. The complainant claimed that the incident reflected deep-seated racial prejudice against people from the North-Eastern region and also pointed to failure of the local system to stop such attacks. The complaint also said that the incident violated the victim’s basic rights, including the right to life, dignity, and equality.
The Commission has also directed that the case proceedings be forwarded to the Uttarakhand Chief Secretary and the Director General of Police. It further stated that the safety of students from the North-East across the state should be ensured.
In Tripura, protests have been taking place demanding justice for Anjel Chakma. Some tribal organisations have also demanded that the trial in the case be shifted outside Uttarakhand.
The NHRC said that the allegations, on initial view, show possible violation of human rights and therefore require a proper inquiry. The District Magistrate and the SSP of Dehradun have been asked to look into the claims and submit a detailed report to the Commission.
Meanwhile, Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami has personally spoken to the student’s father and assured him that strict action will be taken against the accused.
