Urgent Action Needed: Racial Attacks on Northeast Students in Uttarakhand

In a chilling reminder of the persisting discrimination faced by Northeast Indians, a student from Tripura named Angel Chakma was brutally murdered in Dehradun, Uttarakhand, on December 9, 2025. This tragic event has sparked outrage among students and organizations from the Northeast, who are demanding swift action and justice for the victim and his family.

Deeply Disturbing Incident

The North East Students Organisation (NESO) has reported that Angel Chakma, aged 24, was brutally beaten and stabbed in Dehradun. He remained under medical treatment for more than two weeks before succumbing to his injuries on December 26, 2025. The NESO claims that the attack was allegedly accompanied by racial abuse, and the victims were targeted because of their physical appearance and ethnic identity.

Widespread Concerns

The NESO has expressed strong condemnation of the killing, stating that such racial harassment and violence against people from the Northeast have been reported from different parts of the country. In several cases, these incidents have resulted in loss of life.

Collective Demands

The memorandum, submitted on behalf of eight major students organizations from the seven states of the Northeast region, urges the Uttarakhand government to take immediate and effective measures to provide mental, social, and physical security to students and residents from the Northeast living in Dehradun and other parts of the state.

Relevance to North East and India

The incident in Dehradun underscores the ongoing challenges faced by Northeast Indians, particularly students, in other parts of the country. These challenges include discrimination, racial abuse, and violence, which have been reported from various regions in India. Addressing these issues is crucial to ensure the safety, dignity, and well-being of Northeast students and residents outside their home regions.

A Call for Action

The NESO has placed three specific demands before the Uttarakhand government: awarding the highest punishment to those responsible for the crime at the earliest, the establishment of at least one special police station to exclusively deal with cases of racial discrimination and atrocities against people from the Northeast, and the enactment of a stringent law to address racial discrimination in the form of an Anti-Racism Act.

The NESO's memorandum serves as a powerful reminder of the need for concerted action to combat racial discrimination and violence against Northeast Indians. It is essential that the Uttarakhand government, as well as other state governments and central authorities, take immediate and decisive action to ensure the safety and dignity of Northeast students and residents living outside their home regions.