Students from the northeast organised a candlelight march in Dehradun to protest the killing of 24-year-old Anjel Chakma from Tripura and sought justice. The protesters raised slogans against alleged racial discrimination.
Under the banner of the Unified Tripura Students Association (UTSA), students from different institutions gathered outside Gandhi Park in Dehradun on Wednesday. They marched to Ghantaghar (clock tower) holding candles. Some students from other states also joined the protest.
Carrying banners with Chakma’s photograph, the students raised slogans such as “Stop Racism”, “We Are Indians” and “We Want Justice”. UTSA Dehradun general secretary Churanta Tripura alleged that the police were trying to suppress the case and were not treating it as one involving racism.
He further claimed that the police asked the students to stop the march, citing traffic problems due to New Year celebrations.
Chakma, who was a final-year MBA student at a private university in Dehradun, was reportedly attacked with a knife and a brass knuckle by some youths on December 9. He suffered serious injuries and died on December 26 after remaining hospitalised for 17 days.
Though Chakma’s family and friends have described the incident as the result of racist remarks, the Dehradun police said their probe so far has not found any evidence of racial discrimination.
Dehradun SSP Ajay Singh said students from across the country, including more than 2,000 from the northeast, come to the city to for their studies. He added that around 250 students from Tripura alone are currently studying in Dehradun.
Also Read: Anjel Chakma’s murder: NCST seeks action-taken report
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