In the death case of MBA student late Angel Chakma, it has been revealed that Angel’s younger brother was threatened with death if the family dared to register a police complaint. According to All India Chakma Students’ Union (AICSU) President, Drishya Muni Chakma, the threats were issued while Angel was still alive and both Angel and his younger brother were warned that they would be killed if they reported the assault to the police.
Speaking exclusively to Northeast Scoop, the AICSU President said that the threats were direct, clear and frightening, and that the family had been living under pressure from the very beginning of the incident. He said the attackers had warned the brothers that if they lodged an FIR or informed police authorities, they would “not live a life”.
According to AICSU President Drishya Muni Chakma, the threats were issued immediately after the incident and not later. He said that on the same day the attack took place, the accused persons clearly told the brothers that if they approached the police or reported the matter to anyone, they would be killed. 
He said both Angel and his younger brother Michael Chakma were present at the time of the threats. The family, he said, became fearful from that moment and the threats continued to influence their decisions and state of mind even as Angel’s condition became critical. He called the threat a serious criminal act, adding that the family still fears for its safety.
The AICSU President also said that one of the main accused persons has not yet been arrested and is believed to have political connections. He said that although some officials have claimed that one suspect is a citizen of Nepal, AICSU believes this is misleading. According to the organisation, the accused person is actually from Haridwar and not from Nepal. The claim of Nepali identity, he said, may be an attempt to confuse the public regarding his background and whereabouts.
The suspect has been widely referred to as Sumit Awasthi, and AICSU confirms that this name is already in the public domain. The President further stated that some of the accused appear to be influential and connected, which may also explain why one of the prime suspects remains absconding.
AICSU has stated that it has demanded an independent, impartial and serious investigation into the case. The organisation has also called for the case to be transferred from Dehradun to Delhi, stating that the victim’s family does not feel safe in Uttarakhand due to threats and pressure. According to the AICSU President, the family’s trust in the local authorities has been badly shaken and they believe the investigation must be handled outside the state to ensure fairness and transparency.
The organisation has also highlighted what it describes as major lapses in the handling of the case by Uttarakhand Police. The incident reportedly occurred on 9 December 2025, but the FIR was not registered immediately. Instead, the complaint was finally recorded only on 12 December 2025 at 12:10 pm. AICSU says the family approached the Selakui Police Station several times, but the FIR was registered only after strong pressure from the student body. Even then, appropriate sections of the law were not invoked at the initial stage, and murder-related sections were added only after Angel’s death.
Senior police officials have also been criticised for allegedly downplaying the seriousness of the crime. The AICSU President said that attempts were made to describe the incident as a simple fight or argument, while ignoring racial abuse and hate-motivated elements that witnesses and the family have reported.
Concerns have also been raised about the handling of the case by the hospital where Angel was admitted. He was taken to Graphic Era Hospital in critical condition, and it was treated as a medico-legal case. However, the AICSU President said the police were not informed immediately, which has raised questions about institutional responsibility, communication lapses and transparency during treatment. The organisation believes the matter must be independently examined to determine whether proper medical and legal procedures were followed.
The AICSU President also commented on the government reward announced to trace the absconding accused. Initially, the Uttarakhand Chief Minister announced a reward of Rs 25,000 for information leading to the arrest of the suspect. This was later increased to Rs 1 lakh. However, the AICSU President said that an amount as low as Rs 25,000 for a murder accused sends a wrong message and shows that the case was not taken seriously at the beginning.
In contrast, political leader Pradyot Debarma announced a personal reward of Rs 10 lakh for any information leading to the accused. AICSU welcomed this move and said it reflects an understanding of the seriousness and gravity of the case. The organisation also pointed out that even a former senior police officer has publicly remarked that the case appears to have been handled lightly in the early stages.
Meanwhile, student organisations from the Northeast came together under the banner of various student bodies, including Chakma student groups, to hold a protest at Jantar Mantar in Delhi. The demonstration, held between 2 pm and 5 pm, called for justice for late Angel Chakma and demanded safety measures for Northeast students studying in states outside the region. Protesters also expressed concern over the treatment of the case by authorities and urged immediate corrective action.
In a formal press release dated 29 December 2025, the All India Chakma Students’ Union announced that it has written to the Chief Minister of Uttarakhand seeking transfer of the investigation to the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI). The organisation has also demanded that the trial be shifted outside Uttarakhand, preferably to Delhi, citing lack of safety and faith in the state’s investigative machinery.
The organisation has further demanded action against police officers who refused to register the FIR initially and who are alleged to have distorted or misrepresented facts. It has also demanded immediate arrest of the absconding accused and application of the SC/ST (Prevention of Atrocities) Act in the case. In addition, AICSU has sought ₹2 crore compensation for Angel’s family and the creation of a dedicated police unit in Uttarakhand for the protection of Northeast residents, similar to the SPUNER unit under Delhi Police.
The AICSU President has also strongly criticised the statements made by the SSP handling the case. He alleged that the SSP repeatedly changed his public statements and appeared to defend or echo the version put forward by the accused. He said the SSP seemed to dismiss the statements of the victim’s family and witnesses, including the younger brother Michael, and instead presented the case as a minor scuffle or argument. The AICSU President described these remarks as insensitive and said they have contributed to the family’s loss of trust in the police.
Re-emphasising the main revelation, the AICSU President said that the death threats were issued right from the beginning of the incident. He said the accused persons told both Angel and Michael that if they informed the police or filed a complaint, they would not survive. He said this was not a passing remark or light comment, but a serious and dangerous threat that has left the family living in fear.
He stressed that such intimidation amounts to a grave criminal act and reinforces the need for witness protection and an independent investigation.
The case has caused deep concern among students and communities from the Northeast living in other parts of India. Many fear that they may face similar hostility or discrimination and may not receive fair treatment in sensitive situations. The allegations of racial abuse, police negligence, hospital lapses and intimidation have together raised questions about the safety of minority communities.
Angel’s family, while still grieving the tragic loss of a young life, is also living under fear following the alleged threats to Michael. Despite this, the family and AICSU remain determined to seek justice and accountability. They have called for strong legal action against all those responsible and for meaningful steps to ensure the safety of students from the region.
AICSU has stated that it will continue to pursue the matter at all available legal and constitutional forums. The organisation said justice for late Angel Chakma cannot be compromised under any circumstances, and the dignity and safety of the victim’s family must be protected.
