Overview
- Angel Chakma, 24, died on December 26 from stab and blunt-force injuries suffered in a December 9 assault in Dehradun, with doctors citing severe neck and spinal damage.
- Five of six accused have been apprehended, including two juveniles sent to a correctional home, while the main accused, identified as Yagya Awasthi, remains at large with a ₹25,000 reward announced.
- Investigators escalated the FIR from assault to attempt to murder and now to murder under the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, and police teams have been dispatched to track the absconding suspect, believed to be in Nepal.
- Family and eyewitnesses report racial slurs such as “Chinese” and “momo” before the attack, a claim disputed by some police statements that describe the incident as a verbal spat, with the motive under investigation.
- Public pressure has intensified after candlelight marches and statements from leaders including Tripura CM Manik Saha, Rahul Gandhi and Kapil Sibal, while Uttarakhand CM Pushkar Singh Dhami has pledged strict action; new CCTV footage reported on December 29 is feeding the probe.