On February 18, 2026, the Supreme Court of India opposed the idea of categorizing crimes based on race or region. Chief Justice Surya Kant, leading a three-judge Bench, said this could increase divisions in society. The court was hearing a petition asking for clear guidelines to treat 'racial slur' as a separate hate crime. The petition followed the death of Anjel Chakma, a 24-year-old MBA student from Tripura, who was fatally attacked in Uttarakhand by a group of men after he resisted heckling. Anjel said to his attackers, "We are Indians. What certificate should we show to prove that?" before he died without regaining consciousness on December 27. Advocate Anoop Prakash Awasthi filed the petition, urging action against hate crimes and racial violence, especially targeting people from north-eastern India. He noted that the current laws, including the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, lack specific measures against hate crimes. The petition highlighted past incidents like the killing of Nido Taniam in 2014 and numerous attacks on northeastern citizens in cities, despite government acknowledgment. Chief Justice Kant emphasized that crime should be addressed strictly, regardless of who is involved. However, classifying crime by the victim's identity could harm unity in a diverse nation. The court directed Attorney General R. Venkataramani to review the petition and refer it to the right authorities for consideration.