Incident in Dehradun

Anjel Chakma, 24, originally from Tripura, died in a hospital in Dehradun 17 days after an altercation on December 9. The incident involved Anjel and his brother Michael Chakma, who were confronted by a group of men at a market. The family reported that racial slurs were used during the confrontation.

Anjel Chakma sustained stab wounds, and Michael Chakma was reportedly struck on the head with a metal bracelet. Michael Chakma recovered from his injuries, but Anjel Chakma's injuries proved fatal. Uttarakhand state police have arrested five individuals in connection with the incident. Police have denied that the attack was racially motivated, a claim that the Chakma family disputes. The event has led to protests in several cities.

Concerns Regarding Discrimination

The incident has drawn attention to allegations of discrimination reported by individuals from India's north-eastern states when residing in larger cities for educational or professional purposes. Reported experiences include mockery concerning appearance, questioning of nationality, and harassment in public and professional environments.

Furthermore, instances of difficulty in securing rental accommodation have been cited, with landlords reportedly declining tenants based on appearance, dietary habits, or stereotypes. These pressures have reportedly contributed to north-eastern migrants often forming communities within specific neighborhoods in large cities, which can offer mutual support and cultural familiarity.

Previous Incidents and Advocacy

Prior instances of violence involving individuals from the north-eastern region have been documented. Notable cases include the 2014 death of Nido Tania, a student from Arunachal Pradesh, in Delhi following an altercation related to his appearance. Other reported incidents include a student assault in Pune in 2016 and an assault by a landlord in Bengaluru in 2017.

Rights organizations, such as the Delhi-based Rights and Risks Analysis Group, state that many such incidents do not gain national media attention. Suhas Chakma, director of the group, indicated that these issues often gain prominence primarily when severe violence occurs. The federal government's annual crime reports do not categorize data specifically for racial violence.

Personal Accounts and Perspectives

Ambika Phonglo from Assam stated that distinct facial features are often targeted in incidents of racism. Mary Wahlang from Meghalaya reported experiencing racial taunts during college in Karnataka, which influenced her decision to return home rather than seek employment in larger cities.

Activists suggest that while awareness of the north-eastern region and associated discrimination has increased over time, casual racism persists. Alana Golmei, a member of a federal government monitoring committee established in 2018, emphasized that acknowledging the issue is crucial for addressing it effectively, stating that dismissing such incidents as isolated events may exacerbate the problem.