New Delhi, 30 December (HS): The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) on Tuesday issued a notice to the Dehradun district magistrate and the senior superintendent of police in connection with the killing of a student from Tripura in the Uttarakhand capital, directing them to investigate the allegations and submit an action taken report within seven days.

The Commission has also sought a copy of the proceedings to be sent to the Uttarakhand chief secretary and the director general of police. It further directed the authorities to ensure the safety of students from the northeastern region across the state.

Anjel Chakma, 24, a final-year MBA student at a private university in Dehradun, was allegedly attacked by a group of youths using a knife and a bracelet on December 9. He succumbed to his injuries on December 26 after undergoing treatment for 17 days.

According to the complaint, the victim’s father, a Border Security Force personnel currently posted in Manipur, alleged that his son was brutally attacked while trying to defend his brother, who was allegedly subjected to racial slurs by the assailants.

As per the NHRC proceedings, a bench of the Commission took cognisance of the matter under Section 12 of the Protection of Human Rights Act, 1993. The complaint alleged that the student was targeted in a racially motivated incident while studying outside his home state and was assaulted after asserting his identity as an Indian citizen.

The proceedings stated that the incident has triggered nationwide concern and reflects deep-rooted discrimination against people from the Northeast, lapses by local authorities in preventing violence, and the absence of adequate protection mechanisms. The Commission observed that the allegations, on the face of it, point to a serious violation of the victim’s right to life, dignity and equality.

The NHRC directed its registry to issue notices to the district magistrate and the SSP, Dehradun, seeking a detailed inquiry into the allegations and submission of an action taken report within the stipulated time.

Earlier, the Dehradun police said the dispute did not arise from racial remarks, stating that both the victim and one of the accused were from the northeastern region. Meanwhile, the Uttarakhand government assured the victim’s family of strict action against those responsible, while leaders across party lines called for stronger measures to prevent hate-based crimes against people from the Northeast.

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Hindusthan Samachar / Jun Sarkar