Various youth and students’ organizations in Agartala organized a candlelight march to protest the tragic death of Angel Chakma, a 24-year-old student from Tripura who was fatally assaulted in Dehradun, Uttarakhand. Angel, the son of a Border Security Force (BSF) constable, passed away on December 26 due to injuries sustained during an attack by miscreants on December 9.
The candle march, led by the Tipra Indigenous Students Federation (TISF) and other groups, commenced at the Swami Vivekananda Stadium and traversed through different parts of the city. Participants called for stringent laws to safeguard individuals from the Northeast residing in various regions of the country, especially in north India, seeking justice for Angel Chakma.
Suraj Debbarma, President of the Youth Tipra Federation (YTF) under the Tipra Motha Party (TMP), emphasized the history of assaults and discrimination faced by Northeastern youths in different states, underscoring the critical need for enhanced protection measures.
Meghalaya Chief Minister Conrad K. Sangma and his party, the National People’s Party (NPP), strongly condemned the incident, labeling it as unacceptable and heartbreaking. Stressing the importance of not tolerating racial violence, Sangma demanded severe punishment for the culprits, asserting the equal Indian identity of Northeastern residents.
