Senior Congress leader Gaurav Gogoi on Monday (December 29, 2025) expressed concern over the death of 24-year-old youth Angel Chakma from Tripura and the discrimination faced by citizens of north-eastern states of India in other parts of the country. He said that on December 9, Angel Chakma, a youth from Tripura, had to say in Dehradun that I am an Indian, the citizens of North East are Indians, not Chinese. This incident happened when he was returning with his brother after buying something from the market like a normal day.
He said that this was not the first time with Angel. Many times he was teased in the market, insulted and called a Chinese. Usually he would silently tolerate the insult and leave from there, but that day perhaps his patience had run out.
Gogoi raised questions on the role of police in the case
Congress leader Gaurav Gogoi, while addressing the press conference on Monday (December 29), said, ‘When Angel Chakma lost his patience, he retorted and said that I am an Indian, not a Chinese. Will I have to provide any proof of being an Indian? When he responded to those people’s words by standing on his feet and making eye contact, some people hugged him and apologized and extended a hand of friendship, but at the same time five people who came from behind attacked him.
I am an Indian, I am not Chinese. The people of the North East are Indians, and not Chinese.
These are the words that 24 year old Angel Chakma from Tripura had to say in Dehradun on 9th December.
One day when Angel Chakma was returning from the market with his brother. Then, as always, some people… pic.twitter.com/EzSuRQuN9S
— Congress (@INCIndia) December 29, 2025
He said, ‘Angel fought for life and death for 12 days. Sadly, he lost this battle and today he is no longer with us. He further said, ‘The worrying thing is that the family members of Angel Chakma allege that the role of the local police was not as sensitive and prompt as it should have been. According to media reports, it took about 12 days to register the FIR. The action intensified after the students’ protest, but the main accused is still absconding.
The Congress leader said, ‘This question is serious whether when a youth from the North East goes to the police station, does he get equal sensitivity and justice? Does his identity itself become a cause of doubt for him? Angel had gone to Uttarakhand to study, he had gone with dreams, but he had to lose his life.
I too faced discrimination in Agra- Gogoi
Gaurav Gogoi said, ‘I too have faced such discrimination once. When I went to Agra, the guard there asked me to show my passport. When in your own country your own brother is asking for your passport. This feeling. These are the feelings. Only brothers coming from North East can understand this. How painful this is. The tricolor flag of the country is hoisted on different platforms or it is a symbol of our strength and power.
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