AMSU demands swift justice in Angel Chakma killing

The All Manipur Students’ Union has strongly condemned the racist attack and killing of Angel Chakma, a student from Tripura, in Dehradun, terming the incident a grave assault on the dignity, identity, and safety of students from Northeast India across the country.
In a statement issued by Ngangom Nihen, Assistant Publicity and Information Secretary of AMSU Headquarters, the union said its foremost demand is the immediate arrest of all those involved in the killing and strict punishment under relevant provisions of law. The organisation further called for a time-bound and transparent investigation to ensure that justice is delivered without delay.
The statement said Angel Chakma was allegedly racially abused, mocked, and dehumanised through derogatory slurs related to his physical appearance and identity as a Northeastern student. AMSU maintained that such acts reflect a deeply entrenched pattern of racism, racial profiling, and discrimination faced by people from the Northeast in different parts of the country.
AMSU asserted that the incident is not an isolated case, recalling earlier instances of racial violence and harassment, including the killing of Nido Tania and several other reported and unreported cases. It said repeated failures in ensuring accountability have emboldened perpetrators and allowed racial violence to persist.
Giving priority to its demands, AMSU urged the authorities to formally recognise racial abuse and hate crimes against Northeastern communities as serious criminal offences and ensure strict enforcement of the law. It also demanded concrete and effective measures by both the Central and State governments to safeguard the safety, dignity, and rights of Northeastern students studying outside the region.
The union stated that racism has no place in a democratic and multicultural country and said continued targeting of Northeastern people violates the constitutional guarantees of equality, non-discrimination, and the right to life and dignity. AMSU expressed solidarity with the bereaved family of Angel Chakma and reiterated that silence and impunity cannot be allowed to continue, stressing that justice must be delivered and racism confronted decisively.