DEHRADUN: Dehradun police said they were open to considering new statements from Anjel Chakma's family about racial slurs allegedly made by the accused, days after initially ruling out any such angle based on preliminary investigation.

The murder took place on Dec 9 in a public area, and Anjel, a youth from Tripura, succumbed to injuries on Dec 26.Senior superintendent of police Ajai Singh said on Monday that their investigation so far did not suggest the use of racial slurs in the attack on Anjel and his brother Michael. "The incident appeared to have happened in the heat of the moment, in a busy public place, where remarks exchanged between the six accused among themselves were mistaken as being directed at the Chakma brothers," Singh said.

“No Racial Angle”: SSP Rules Out Alleged Slurs in Angel Chakma Killing

Anjel's brother Michael, the lone eyewitness, and their father Tarun Chakma, a Border Security Force head constable, had told media outlets that the attackers hurled slurs like "Chinese, Chinki and Momo". They said the brothers objected to these remarks, which led to the assault and Anjel's fatal injuries.Singh, however, said, "The investigation so far suggests no racial slurs were hurled. The derogatory comments were passed between the accused in a lighter vein.

There was confusion amid the crowd noise that led the brothers to believe the remarks were directed at them. The entire episode unfolded within minutes."He added that Michael's original complaint only mentioned "casteist slurs" and did not specifically refer to any racial terms. Singh said, "The family remained in Dehradun till Dec 27 but did not tell police about racial slurs. If they are now saying this to media, we are not aware of it.

We will check this and include it if the family shares it with us. We have never denied incorporating any fresh claims beyond what was in the complaint.

"Police have formed a special investigation team to trace and arrest the lone absconding accused, Yagya Awasthi, who allegedly stabbed Anjel with a knife picked up from a nearby egg stall.Meanwhile, on Tuesday evening, Michael posted an emotional video montage of moments with his brother on social media and asked media outlets not to approach him for interviews. "I respectfully request all media houses, television channels and journalists to please stop pressuring me for interviews or explanations... I spoke to some media outlets, but at this moment, I am completely exhausted. I lost my brother, and I am still trying to accept the unbearable loss," he said in the post."I am not in a position to speak further and relive this pain again and again. I need time and space for me and my family to grieve, to breathe, and to begin healing," he added. "I love you mere bhai."