After the tragic death of 24-year-old Tripura youth Angel Chakma, who succumbed to his injuries following an alleged racial attack in Uttarakhand, police
have revealed that a key accused in the case has been identified as Yagya Awasthi and is from Nepal. Pramod Kumar, Superintendent of Police (City), told reporters that five accused have been arrested in connection with the case. Of them, three identified as Avinash Negi, Suraj Khawas, and Sumit have been sent to judicial custody, while two juveniles were produced before the Juvenile Justice Board and sent to a correctional home. Police are currently searching for another accused, Yagya Awasthi, a Nepal national who has been accused of allegedly stabbing Chakma. A non-bailable warrant has been issued against him, and a reward of Rs 25,000 has been announced for information leading to his arrest. Authorities said efforts are underway to nab him at the earliest.
Angel Chakma's friend narrates what happened on the day of the attack
The incident occurred on the evening of December 9 when Angel Chakma and his younger brother, Michael Chakma, students from Tripura, had gone to Selaqui for some work. During that time, they allegedly got into a verbal altercation with a group of local youths, where racial slurs were hurled against the Northeast brothers. According to the complaint, the men called them "Chinese," "Nepali," "Chinki," and "Momos", and when they objected, a physical altercation broke out.
In an exclusive conversation with Times Now, a close friend of Angel, who was present at the time of the incident, shared how Chakma had been stabbed.
"Six people were drunk, and one of them was from Nepal. Others were local. They abused the younger brother (Michael) first, saying "momo" and "chinki," and then they started beating him, and when Angel went to save him, he was stabbed in the backbone and stomach. He was also hit in the head with a kadaa," his friend, who is from Haldwani, told Times Now.
"This kind of fight keeps happening, but to this extent, this has never happened. The accused were highly intoxicated. The others were locals, but the man who stabbed him was from Nepal, he has not been caught yet. I don't know how the main accused managed to flee to Nepal or who is at fault, I can't say," he added.
After the violent clash, the victims were rushed to the hospital by their brother, following which an FIR was registered. Police have launched an investigation, examining CCTV footage and gathering inputs from people in the surrounding area.
Angel Chakma succumbed to his injuries two days ago while undergoing treatment, following which a murder charge was added to the case.
