Agartala, Dec 31 (NationPress) The Tipra Motha Party (TMP), a minor partner of the ruling BJP in Tripura, has called upon the Central government to promptly introduce a thorough anti-racial law to protect individuals from the Northeast living across various regions of the nation.

During a joint press conference, TMP representatives Rajeshwar Debbarma, C.K. Jamatia, and Anthony Debbarma expressed that the lack of dedicated anti-racial legislation has permitted discrimination and racially charged violence to persist without consequence. They emphasized that implementing such a law would facilitate organized and effective measures against racism, helping to eliminate discriminatory attitudes and avert heinous acts aimed at individuals from the Northeast.

This demand was raised following the tragic death of Tripura student Angel Chakma, who was savagely attacked in Dehradun on December 9. He succumbed to his injuries in a hospital on December 26. The 24-year-old final-year MBA student from a university in Uttarakhand, hailing from the Chakma tribal community, was severely injured after being assaulted by a group of assailants who reportedly used racial slurs against him. Chakma, son of a Border Security Force (BSF) jawan, fought for his life for 18 days at a hospital in Dehradun.

TMP leader Rajeshwar Debbarma has called for severe punishment for the offenders and the enforcement of the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act, 1989.

Rajeshwar Debbarma and fellow TMP leaders criticized the Uttarakhand government for its sluggish response towards the attackers. “The police in Dehradun only registered the case after the Lok Sabha member from Tripura, Kriti Devi Debbarman, intervened with the Uttarakhand Chief Minister, and after Angel’s father, Tarun Prasad Chakma, arrived in Dehradun to approach the police,” stated Anthony Debbarma.

TMP chief Pradyot Bikram Manikya Debbarma condemned the Uttarakhand government and the state police, accusing them of attempting to downplay the incident by suggesting it was not racially motivated. “The attackers labeled Angel with terms like ‘Chinki’, ‘Chinese’, and ‘Momo’ and viciously assaulted him, even while his father, a BSF soldier, was protecting the country’s borders,” Pradyot Debbarma expressed in a video message.

He stressed that officials and citizens across India must recognize that many migrants from diverse communities also reside in the Northeastern states, referencing the Dehradun police’s statement about one of the arrested attackers being from Manipur. The TMP leader urged the Northeastern populace to unite in safeguarding their collective interests and combat racism.

Pradyot Debbarma reiterated the demand for immediate and exemplary punishment for those responsible, announcing a reward of Rs 10 lakh for information leading to the capture of the main accused, who has reportedly fled to Nepal.

The incident has ignited widespread anger throughout the Northeastern region, with Congress Deputy Leader in the Lok Sabha and Assam MP Gaurav Gogoi, Mizoram Chief Minister Lalduhoma, Meghalaya Chief Minister Conrad K. Sangma, and numerous organizations denouncing the assault, labeling it a “horrific hate crime”.

Former Manipur Chief Minister N. Biren Singh, Tripura Congress state President Ashish Kumar Saha, the National People’s Party led by Meghalaya Chief Minister Sangma, the North East Students’ Organisation (NESO), representing eight major student organizations of the Northeastern states, the All India Chakma Students’ Union (AICSU), the Manipuri Students’ Federation, the Tripura Tribal Students’ Union, and many other groups also strongly condemned the killing and demanded strict punishment for the offenders.