Police in Uttarakhand have formed a Special Investigation Team (SIT) to probe the killing of 24-year-old MBA student Anjel Chakma in Dehradun earlier this month.
Dehradun Senior Superintendent of Police Ajay Singh said the SIT will be led by SP (Rural) Pankaj Gairola. Investigators have also collected CCTV footage from the area where the attack took place, as part of efforts to piece together the sequence of events.
The Uttarakhand Police Headquarters has announced a reward of Rs 1 lakh for information that leads to the arrest of the prime accused, Yagya Raj Awasthi, who remains absconding.
Anjel Chakma, a student from Tripura, was assaulted by a group of attackers using knives and blunt weapons on December 9. He later died while undergoing treatment at a hospital.
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Police have so far arrested five people in connection with the case. A sixth accused, identified as being of Nepali origin, fled the area a day after the incident, officials said. Separate teams have been deployed to trace him, with investigators suspecting he may be hiding in nearby border regions.
According to SSP Singh, the case was initially registered under basic sections, but additional provisions, including those related to attempted murder, were added following a preliminary inquiry and witness statements. A supplementary report was subsequently filed.
Singh said the state government has been kept informed about the investigation, and Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami has been briefed on the progress made so far. Police have also recorded statements from Chakma’s family.
The killing has triggered protests outside Uttarakhand. On Tuesday, members of the National Student Union of India held a candlelight march in New Delhi, calling for justice in the case.