My son was recovering, then he died: Father alleges medical negligence in Anjel Chakma case

The death of 24-year-old MBA student Anjel Chakma from Tripura, who succumbed to injuries following a violent assault in Dehradun, has sparked widespread outrage, with his family alleging racial abuse, lapses in medical treatment, and demanding justice for students from the Northeast.

Anjel Chakma died on December 26, more than 17 days after he was brutally attacked on December 9 near a roadside canteen under the Selakui police station area of Dehradun. According to police, Anjel and his younger brother Michael Chakma were allegedly subjected to racially abusive remarks by a group of intoxicated men. When the brothers protested, the altercation escalated rapidly into violence.

Senior Superintendent of Police Ajai Singh said the accused were allegedly under the influence of alcohol. “The confrontation spiralled out of control within minutes. Anjel was struck on the head and back with a sharp-edged weapon and a metal kada, after which he collapsed at the spot,” the SSP said.

Anjel was rushed to Graphic Era Hospital, where he remained under treatment for over two weeks before succumbing to his injuries.

A medical report from the hospital, accessed by India Today, details the severity of the injuries sustained by Anjel. The report notes deep lacerations on his back and the occipital region of his head, multiple abrasions on his foot, complete loss of power on the right side of his body, sensory deficits, spinal cord injuries, and fissures in the brain, indicating extensive neurological trauma.

Speaking after his son’s death, Anjel’s father Tarun Prasad Chakma said the family suspects medical negligence during treatment. “After the operation was conducted, the hospital staff said it was successful. A doctor named Piyush Pandey told us everything was fine. But soon after, on December 18, my son’s condition deteriorated. We were later told the doctor was on leave,” he alleged.

He further claimed that Anjel, who was initially responding and speaking normally, was later shifted from the ICU to a ventilator, after which his hands and legs stopped functioning. “Before that, my son was talking properly and saying he would be fine. I believe the treatment was not done properly,” he said.

Expressing anguish over the incident, Tarun Prasad Chakma also appealed to the government to ensure safety and dignity for people from the Northeast. “Our children from Nagaland, Mizoram, Tripura and other Northeastern states go to places like Delhi, Mumbai and Bengaluru to study or work. They should not be treated so adversely. We are all Indians and deserve equal treatment,” he said.

Following a complaint by the family, Dehradun Police registered an FIR and constituted a Special Investigation Team (SIT). Five accused have been arrested so far, including two minors, who have been sent to a juvenile reform home. The arrested accused have been identified as Avnish Negi, Shaurya Rajput, Suraj Khwas, Sumit Kumar and Ayush Badoni.

Police said one prime suspect remains absconding and is believed to have fled to Nepal. A reward of Rs 25,000 has been announced for information leading to his arrest, and a separate police team has been dispatched to trace his whereabouts.

The Uttarakhand government has taken note of the incident. Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami termed the assault “completely unacceptable” and assured strict action against those responsible.

Investigators have since added murder charges to the case, and further investigation is underway