Guwahati, January 1: Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma on Thursday emphasized the need to educate people across India about the Northeast to prevent tragic incidents like the killing of Tripura student Angel Chakma in Dehradun.

The 24-year-old MBA student from Tripura succumbed to injuries 16 days after a group of intoxicated individuals attacked him and hurled racial abuses. The incident led to widespread protests by students in Northeastern states and in Delhi.

Sarma urged strict action against the accused, stating that harsh punishment would serve as a deterrent and send a strong message to the nation. “If the accused are given harsh punishment, it will send a strong signal to the entire nation, and such incidents will hopefully not recur,” he said.

The Chief Minister underlined that people from the Northeast are “proud Indians” and called for greater awareness about the region and improved communication between its residents and the rest of the country. He described Chakma’s death as “really sad and unfortunate,” offering condolences to the family and condemning the attack.

Sarma also noted that there have been no such cases in Assam in the past five years and expressed hope that such incidents would not recur. When asked about Northeastern students studying outside Assam, he said no centralized data currently exists but could be collected if required.