India, Dec. 30 -- Police probing the murder of Tripura student Anjel Chakma in Dehradun have rejected allegations that the crime involved racial abuse, even as political leaders and student groups continue to describe the incident as a hate crime.

Dehradun Senior Superintendent of Police Ajay Singh said the investigation has found no evidence of racial slurs triggering the violence. "Both the victim and the accused belong to the Northeast. Therefore, the question of racial abuse does not arise," Singh said. He added that the accused told police the assault stemmed from a misunderstanding after Anjel and his brother Michael misinterpreted remarks made during a group interaction.

Police have arrested three accused - Avinash Negi (25) of S...