Racism Within Our Borders

“We are not Chinese… We are Indians. What certificate should we show to prove that?” These were the last words of Anjel Chakma from Tripura, who was fatally injured in a brutal attack by a group of youth in Dehradun, Uttarakhand, on December 9, 2025, as per a public interest litigation (PIL) filed before the Supreme Court seeking urgent judicial intervention. The 24-year-old MBA student succumbed to his injuries after fighting for his life for more than two weeks at a hospital in Dehradun. According to a complaint lodged by his younger brother, who was with him during the confrontation, the attackers hurled racial slurs before assaulting them with sharp objects. For the promising young student, being Indian was not enough to ensure safety and fulfil his dreams. He was not alone. Many lives from the Northeast region have been cut short just because of their looks. Some of the cases that triggered widespread protests and attention in the recent past included the murder of Richard Loitam from Manipur in Bangalore (2012) and Nido Tania from Arunachal Pradesh in Delhi (2014). Such incidents of racial discrimination, stereotyping, name-calling and racial profiling against people from the Northeast are not uncommon in mainland India, from classrooms to marketplaces to public spaces. They are made to prove that they are Indians in their own country; some live with psychological trauma caused by stress related to racism in silence, while those who speak up against being othered, like Chakma, are often abused, some fatally. The pattern of racial discrimination and attacks directed at citizens from the region is worrying, something the governments in the States and the Centre should address with urgency.

Law enforcement agencies are often accused of delaying the filing of complaints and of a lack of seriousness while handling cases associated with victims from the Northeast. The government should ensure that the police carry out their duties promptly and without any bias. The Bezbaruah Committee, which was set up in the wake of Tania’s murder more than a decade ago to address the security concerns of people from the region living in other parts of the country, had suggested many remedial measures, including an anti-racial law, dedicated police units and fast-track courts, but the recommendations remain largely unimplemented. What is required is political will to end racial discrimination by enacting stringent laws and ensuring a speedy justice delivery process. Many choose not to take the legal route due to several factors such as cost and prolonged delays. This needs to be addressed. More importantly, it is essential to engage in a deeper societal reflection on what is indispensable for harmonious coexistence in a pluralistic society like ours. The concept of pluralism should be transformed into a lived reality.