Kamal Ghorui
DEHRADUN: It has been almost four months since the murder of 24-year-old MBA student from Tripura Anjel Chakma in Dehradun for resisting what his family has said were “racial slurs”. And the youngster’s traumatised family continues to await justice as the prime accused, Yagya Awasthi, remains at large.Anjel’s father, Tarun Prasad Chakma, a head constable in BSF and currently deployed at the Bangladesh border in Tripura, told TOI over phone on Tuesday that despite the scars and unforgettable pain, he is determined to complete his stipulated duty to protect the country.“I was broken to the core but despite the tragedy I didn’t ditch my national duty by resigning or taking VRS. I will complete my full service tenure. I am guarding my country’s borders and I hope the country will give me justice,” said Chakma, who recently got himself transferred to his home state from Manipur to take care of his family.Chakma further said his wife and younger son, Michael, who was with Anjel at the time of the horrific incident on Dec 9, 2025, are yet to recover. “My wife keeps crying… Michael remains silent most of the time, taking the blame on himself for Anjel’s death. My heart cries inside, seeing both of them in this condition,” Chakma said.Anjel and his brother Michael were allegedly attacked by the six accused, including two minors, for opposing racial slurs targeted at them in Dehradun’s Selaqui area. Suffering serious injuries on his neck and lower back, Anjel was admitted to a private hospital in Dehradun, where he succumbed on Dec 26, causing widespread outrage across the country.His uncle, Momen Chakma, who saw him grow since childhood, said they hope justice will be served and Awasthi, a native of Nepal, according to the police, is arrested soon. “Awasthi was the one who stabbed him in his back. It is disappointing and worrisome that he is still free.”
