The chilling echo of racial violence has once again struck at the heart of India’s promise of unity. The Anjel Chakma death in Dehradun has not just claimed a promising young life; it’s ripped open a national wound, forcing a long-overdue conversation about the safety and dignity of citizens from India’s Northeast.
Union Minister Kiren Rijiju’s response has been swift and unambiguous: a nationwide rollout of a ‘Delhi-like’ system to combat such heinous acts. But what does that system look like, and why is it seen as the critical solution in the wake of this tragedy?
Table of Contents
- The Tragedy of Anjel Chakma: What Happened?
- Kiren Rijiju’s National Call for Action
- What is the Delhi SPUNER Model?
- Why a ‘Delhi-like’ System is Needed Nationwide
- Conclusion: Unifying India Against Hate
- Sources
The Tragedy of Anjel Chakma: What Happened?
Anjel Chakma, a 24-year-old final-year MBA student from Tripura’s Chakma community, was a young man with his whole life ahead of him . On December 9, 2025, his future was brutally cut short in Dehradun, Uttarakhand .
Reports indicate that Anjel was targeted with vicious racial slurs before being attacked by a group of assailants armed with knives and other blunt objects . The injuries were so severe that he fought for his life in a hospital for over two weeks before succumbing to them on December 26 . The incident, a stark and shameful act of mob violence, has sent shockwaves across the nation, particularly in the Northeastern states .
Kiren Rijiju’s National Call for Action
As a prominent political figure from the Northeast himself, Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju has been at the forefront of the national response. He has publicly stated, “There is anger”, a sentiment that resonates with millions .
Rijiju’s central demand is clear: the horrific Anjel Chakma death should not be treated as an isolated, regional incident. He has forcefully argued that this is a national crisis that demands a national solution . In an exclusive statement to CNN-News18, he called for the Delhi SPUNER model to be implemented across the country to provide a dedicated mechanism for the security and justice of Northeastern citizens living anywhere in India [[1], [2]].
What is the Delhi SPUNER Model?
The “Delhi-like system” that Rijiju champions is the Special Police Unit for the North Eastern Region (SPUNER). Established by the Delhi Police in response to a previous brutal attack on a student from the Northeast, SPUNER is a specialized, proactive force designed specifically to address the unique challenges faced by this community .
Its key functions include:
- 24/7 Dedicated Helpline: A multilingual helpline (1093) staffed by officers who can communicate with the community in their own languages, ensuring immediate and empathetic support [[16], [18]].
- Community Policing: SPUNER works to build trust by embedding Northeastern youth as volunteers and representatives, acting as a bridge between the community and the police force .
- Swift Grievance Redressal: The unit is mandated to act swiftly on complaints of racial abuse, discrimination, and violence, moving beyond a reactive model of policing to a preventative one .
- Promoting Inclusivity: Beyond security, SPUNER actively works on campaigns to foster a more inclusive and welcoming environment in the capital .
Why a ‘Delhi-like’ System is Needed Nationwide
The Anjel Chakma death in Dehradun is a tragic reminder that the insidious problem of racial prejudice against people from the Northeast is not confined to a single city or state. It is a systemic, nationwide issue.
Students, professionals, and families from the region often live in a state of anxiety when they move to other parts of the country, facing everything from casual microaggressions to life-threatening violence . The current, fragmented approach to policing fails them. A generic police complaint is often inadequate to address the specific cultural and linguistic context of these hate crimes.
A national SPUNER model would provide:
- Standardized Protection: A uniform protocol for handling racial attacks across all states and union territories.
- A Sense of Security: Knowing there is a dedicated, understanding authority to turn to can empower individuals to report incidents without fear, a crucial step towards justice .
- Accountability: It would create a clear, centralized mechanism to track, monitor, and resolve cases of racial violence, holding local authorities accountable.
This move would be a powerful statement from the Union government that the safety and dignity of every Indian, regardless of their ethnicity or origin, is a non-negotiable national priority.
Conclusion: Unifying India Against Hate
The senseless killing of Anjel Chakma is more than a crime; it’s a test of India’s social fabric. Kiren Rijiju’s demand for a nationwide implementation of the Delhi SPUNER model is a practical and urgent call to action.
It’s a proposal that moves beyond mere condemnation and towards a concrete, structured system of protection and justice. In a nation that prides itself on its ‘Unity in Diversity,’ the death of a young citizen because of his appearance is a national shame. The legacy of Anjel Chakma must be a safer, more inclusive India for everyone. Implementing a national framework for combating racial attacks is not just a policy choice—it’s a moral imperative.
[INTERNAL_LINK:safety-for-northeast-indians-in-india] | [INTERNAL_LINK:history-of-racial-violence-in-india]
Sources
1. Times of India: ‘There is anger’: Kiren Rijiju on Anjel Chakma’s death; demands for ‘Delhi-like’ system for racial attacks
2. CNN-News18: Kiren Rijiju Calls For Delhi-Style SPUNER Model Nationwide After Angel Chakma Killing | Exclusive
3. Delhi Police SPUNER: Official Delhi Police Website – SPUNER Unit
4. The Hindu: Tripura student dies after getting stabbed in Dehradun over racial slurs