A Public Interest Litigation (PIL) has been filed in the Supreme Court seeking judicial intervention to address ongoing racial discrimination and violence faced by citizens from northeastern states and other frontier regions of India. This legal action was prompted by the tragic killing of Anjel Chakma, a 24-year-old MBA student from Tripura, who died on December 26 after suffering severe injuries from a racially motivated attack in Dehradun. Anjel, originally from Machmara in Unakoti district, had moved to Dehradun for his MBA studies after graduating from Holy Cross School in Agartala. He was fatally stabbed in front of his younger brother Michael.
The family of Anjel Chakma is advocating for capital punishment or life imprisonment for those responsible for his death. Lawyer Anoop Prakash Awasthi, based in Delhi, has included the Centre as well as all states and Union territories as respondents in the PIL. The petition cites violations of fundamental rights under Articles 14, 19 (1) a & (g), and 21 of the Constitution, requesting a writ under Article 32 to combat the racial discrimination and violence perceived by these communities.
The PIL reflects a deeper narrative of the Indian identity as articulated by Anjel Chakma with the poignant question: “We are Indians. What certificate should we show to prove that?” This statement encapsulated the essence of his constitutional identity before the situation escalated into violence leading to his untimely death. The plea highlights a systemic failure in protecting the rights and safety of marginalized citizens in India, emphasizing the urgent need for judicial scrutiny and intervention against such acts of racial violence.
