NHRC takes Suo-Motu cognizance of Tripura student’s murder in Dehradun

New Delhi | Desk: The brutal murder of Anjel Chakma, an MBA student from Tripura, in Dehradun, the capital of Uttarakhand, has sparked outrage. The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) member Priyank Kanoongo has taken suo motu cognizance of the incident and issued a notice to the Uttarakhand government, seeking a report on the action taken.

He has directed the Chief Secretary and the Director General of Police to ensure the safety of students from the Northeast studying in the state as a top priority.

It is noteworthy that on December 9, Anjel was attacked with knives and sharp weapons by some miscreants in Dehradun, and he later succumbed to his injuries during treatment.

So far, five accused have been arrested in the case, including two minors, while one accused of Nepalese origin is still absconding, and a reward of Rs. 25,000 has been announced for his capture.

The incident has also heated up the political landscape of the country. Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha, Rahul Gandhi, termed it a "horrific hate crime" and accused the BJP government of normalizing hatred.

He wrote on social media that India is built on the foundations of respect and unity, not on fear and abuse. Union Minister Kiren Rijiju also emphasized the urgent need for the safety of people from the Northeast and expressed concern over reports of racial abuse.

On the other hand, Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami has expressed condolences to the victim's family and approved financial assistance. According to the Chief Minister's Office, an amount of Rs. 4,12,500 has been released as the first installment of assistance under the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act.

The state government has assured that every possible step is being taken to ensure that the culprits receive the harshest punishment.