New Delhi, December 30, 2025: The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) has taken cognisance of a complaint alleging the brutal assault and killing of a 24-year-old student from Tripura in Dehradun, Uttarakhand, in what is claimed to be a racially motivated attack.
In an order issued under Section 12 of the Protection of Human Rights Act, 1993, the NHRC has directed the District Magistrate and the Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP), Dehradun, to conduct a thorough inquiry into the allegations and submit an Action Taken Report (ATR) within seven days.
According to the complaint placed before the Commission, the victim was allegedly targeted with racial slurs and assaulted after asserting his identity as an Indian citizen while studying outside his home state. The complainant further alleged that the student later succumbed to the injuries sustained in the attack. The incident has reportedly triggered nationwide outrage and highlighted concerns over deep-rooted racial discrimination against people from the North-East, lapses in preventive measures, and inadequate protection by local authorities.
After a preliminary assessment, the NHRC observed that the allegations prima facie indicate violations of the victim’s rights to life, dignity, and equality. The matter was taken up by the NHRC Bench presided over by Hon’ble Member Shri Priyank Kanoongo.
The Commission has also directed that copies of the proceedings be forwarded to the Chief Secretary and the Director General of Police (DGP), Uttarakhand, for information and necessary action. Additionally, authorities have been instructed to ensure the safety and security of students from the North-Eastern region across the state.
The NHRC has sought the ATR to be emailed to the Commission for further consideration and has emphasized accountability as well as systemic measures to prevent hate-based crimes in the future.
