A close friend of Anjel Chakma has recalled the final days of the Tripura student who died after a brutal racist attack in Dehradun, shedding light on his injuries, his last words, and his dreams.
Speaking
to CNN-News18, Ankur Agrawal said he was some distance away when the attack took place. He received a call from the hospital informing him that Anjel had been attacked. When he reached the hospital, he found Anjel badly injured.
“He was stabbed in the back and hit on the head with something sharp. He was bleeding profusely,” Ankur said. He added that Anjel was in severe pain and repeatedly complained of intense pain in his head. Doctors later informed the family and friends that Angel had suffered internal bleeding.
Ankur said they asked Anjel several times if he recognised the attackers. “He said he had seen them for the first time. Anjel never got into fights,” he said.
Recalling Anjel’s personality, Ankur described him as a quiet and friendly person with big dreams. Anjel wanted to climb Mount Everest and had a deep love for trekking.
“He had ordered trekking boots and told me that once he comes back, we will go trekking together,” Ankur said.
Ankur also spoke about what led to the attack. He said Anjel’s brother Michael told him that the two were earlier abused with racial slurs. “They were told, ‘Go away from here, Chinese.’ Anjel went to protect his brother, and that is when the fight happened,” he said.
CCTV footage accessed by CNN-News18 has shed light on the moments leading up to the fatal attack on Anjel Chakma in Dehradun. The visuals show Anjel and his brother Michael near a liquor shop in Selakui on December 9, where they had a heated argument with the accused.
The altercation reportedly began after the attackers hurled racial slurs at Michael. When Anjel stepped in to protect his brother, he was allegedly attacked with knives and a kada. He suffered serious injuries to his head, neck and back.
Police have arrested five accused so far, while one remains absconding in Nepal.
Anjel Chakma later succumbed to his injuries after days of treatment, leaving his family and friends devastated. His death has sparked outrage and renewed demands for justice.
