The North-East Youth Congress Coordination Committee organized a torch rally in Agartala to protest the killing of Angel Chakma, a Tripura student who was attacked in Dehradun and later died from his injuries. Angel Chakma, a 24-year-old MBA student and son of a BSF constable, was assaulted by a racist mob in Dehradun on December 9, where he faced racial slurs during the attack. Despite battling for 18 days in the hospital, he passed away on December 26.
The torch rally, under the banner “Justice for Angel Chakma,” commenced from the state Congress Bhavan and traversed various parts of the city. NEYCCC leaders, led by Tripura State Youth Congress President Neel Kamal Saha, demanded severe punishment for those responsible for Chakma’s death. A delegation from NEYCCC, following Rahul Gandhi’s instructions, visited Chakma’s family to offer support during this challenging period.
Allegations surfaced that the attackers labeled Angel as “Chinese” and brutally assaulted him, while his father, a BSF jawan, was on duty protecting the nation’s borders. Tarun Vijay, a senior BJP leader from Uttarakhand, also visited Chakma’s family and echoed the demand for stringent action against the perpetrators. He emphasized the need for exemplary punishment to prevent such crimes in the future.
Vijay proposed providing a government job in Tripura to Angel Chakma’s brother for the family’s financial stability. He also suggested establishing a special Northeast cell within the Uttarakhand Police to address cases of racial abuse and discrimination. Protests have been ongoing in Uttarakhand post the incident, with demands for justice intensifying.
