Agartala, Dec 29: Tipra Motha Party founder and Tripura’s royal scion Pradyot Kishore Manikya Debbarma on December 29 criticised the Uttarakhand government over its announcement of a ₹25,000 reward for information leading to the arrest of the prime accused in the murder of Anjel Chakma, saying the amount demeaned the value of a human life.
Expressing strong displeasure, Pradyot announced that he would personally offer ₹10 lakh as a reward for credible information that results in the arrest of the main suspect. He said the state government’s decision had left him shocked and deeply disturbed.
Anjel Chakma, a 24-year-old MBA student from Tripura’s Unakoti district, was attacked in Dehradun on December 9 after he reportedly objected to racial slurs directed at his younger brother, Michael Chakma. He sustained critical injuries in the assault and died after undergoing treatment for more than two weeks.
Pradyot questioned the rationale behind the government’s move, asking whether a life could be valued at such a small sum. He said the announcement reflected insensitivity and amounted to making light of a brutal crime.
Stating that his decision to announce a higher reward was driven by a sense of responsibility, Pradyot said he would bear the cost himself but would not accept what he described as an insult to the dignity of people from the region.
The killing has triggered widespread anger, particularly in the Northeast, with renewed concerns over racial harassment and the safety of students studying outside the region. Police have arrested several accused in the case, while the main suspect is believed to have fled the country.
