Shillong, Dec 30: Pro–Inner Line Permit (ILP) supporters in Meghalaya on Monday demanded the enactment of a nationalanti-racism law and fast-track justice following the killing of a 24-year-old MBA student from Tripura, terming the incident part of a recurring pattern of racial violence against people from the Northeast.
The demand was raised during a protest in Shillong organised by the Confederation of Meghalaya Social Organisations (CoMSO), which expressed deep condolences over the death of Angel Chakma.
Chakma succumbed to his injuries on December 26 after being allegedly assaulted earlier this month in Dehradun.
CoMSO leader Roykupar Synrem said such crimes were not isolated incidents but reflected deep-rooted prejudice faced by people from the Northeast in several Indian cities, including Bengaluru, Delhi and Dehradun.
Referring to Chakma’s reported last words—“We are not Chinese, we are Indians”—Synrem said the attack highlighted the racial bias and social exclusion experienced by Northeastern students and professionals outside the region.
Standing in solidarity with the people of Tripura and the wider Northeast, the pro-ILP groups urged the Uttarakhand government and the Union Ministry of Home Affairs to ensure a fast-track trial in the case.
While acknowledging reports that five suspects have been apprehended, they demanded the immediate arrest of the prime accused, warning that delays could embolden similar crimes.
The protesters also called on the Centre to direct all state governments to establish dedicated 24×7 Northeast helplines and specialised police cells in major cities to ensure the safety of students and working professionals from the region.
They further stressed that educational institutions and local administrations must be held accountable for failing to provide a safe and inclusive environment.
Earlier, Meghalaya Chief Minister Conrad K. Sangma condemned the attack, saying acts of racial violence strike at the foundation of equality and national unity.
Sangma, who is also the national president of the National People’s Party (NPP), reiterated that people from the Northeast are Indians like any other citizens and asserted that racism must never be normalised and that those responsible must be punished.
The protest concluded with renewed calls for structural legal safeguards to address racism and discrimination, amid growing concern over the safety of Northeastern communities across the country.
