Anjel Chakma case: Uttarakhand police starts process for red corner notice against main accused

DEHRADUN: Police here have initiated the process to obtain a red corner notice against Yagya Awasthi, the ‘main accused' in the murder of Anjel Chakma, a 24-year-old MBA student from Tripura who died after he was allegedly stabbed for objecting to racial slurs.

Awasthi, whom police identified as a native of Kanchanpur district in Nepal, has been on the run since Dec 9 when Anjel and his brother Michael were allegedly attacked by six men in Dehradun's Selaqui. Police said Awasthi stabbed Anjel in the back, causing severe spinal injuries. While Michael survived with injuries, Anjel died on Dec 26 at a Dehradun hospital.

The other five accused, all residents of Selaqui, including two juveniles, were arrested on Dec 14. They have been named in the FIR filed under BNS sections 103(1) (murder), 3(5) (common intention), 115(2) (voluntarily causing hurt), 118 (causing hurt with dangerous weapons), 351(3) (criminal intimidation), and 61 (criminal conspiracy).

Dehradun SP (Rural-Vikasnagar) Pankaj Gairola said, "The required documentation for a red corner notice has been completed, and we are coordinating with the authorities concerned. It will be issued soon," he said.

Police had earlier announced a reward of Rs 25,000 for information leading to Awasthi's arrest.

"Police have been making continuous efforts to trace Awasthi in coordination with their counterparts in Nepal, but he has so far evaded arrest," said an officer in Dehradun. He added that a blue corner notice had earlier been issued against Awasthi.

A red corner notice is issued to locate and arrest a fugitive, while a blue corner notice is issued to trace a suspect or collect information about their location.

Meanwhile, a senior police officer in Nepal who is coordinating with Dehradun police said there were concerns Awasthi might attempt to leave the country. "There was suspicion he could fly out after fleeing to Nepal, but it was found he does not yet have a passport. We are in touch with the immigration department to monitor any such attempt. We remain in coordination with Uttarakhand police," the officer said, requesting anonymity.