Arunachal Pradesh law enforcement has assembled a dedicated Special Investigation Team (SIT) to delve into a shocking pair of suicides implicating claims of prolonged sexual misconduct and intimidation by prominent civil servants, notably ex-Itanagar Capital Region Deputy Commissioner and IAS officer Talo Potom.
Deputy Inspector General of Police for the Itanagar Capital Region, Tumme Amo, announced the SIT’s formation on Saturday, placing Itanagar Sub-Divisional Police Officer Kengo Dirchi at its helm. Potom, the primary suspect, is currently evading capture, prompting an extensive search operation across jurisdictions.
The team is also liaising with Tirap district’s Superintendent of Police concerning the other implicated figure, Rural Works Department Executive Engineer Likwang Lowang, who reportedly took his own life shortly after the initial tragedy. Suicide missives from both victims flagged Lowang’s HIV status, adding layers of complexity to the inquiry.
On Friday, officers executed a search at Potom’s Itanagar home, recovering one of his SIM cards inside a recently acquired mobile device in the bedroom; the duplicate SIM was held by the property caretaker, who initially resisted access. Dirchi detailed these discoveries as pivotal to tracing communications.
Public scrutiny has intensified around the fatalities of 19-year-old Gomchu Yekar and Lowang, occurring in rapid succession. Yekar’s relatives have leveled grave charges against Potom and Lowang, alleging sustained predatory advances and manipulative tactics, backed by several personal handwritten accounts. Sources suggest Yekar was enticed with offers of stable civil service roles and a staggering ₹1 crore payout.
Family statements further reveal that Yekar had tested positive for HIV, with his final words attributing the transmission to the accused bureaucrat and engineer, raising alarms about deliberate health risks.
Legal proceedings have invoked Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita provisions: Section 108 for instigating self-harm, alongside 271 and 272/3(5) addressing reckless or intentional actions that could propagate infectious diseases. Potom, now assigned as Special Secretary in the Public Works Department under Delhi’s administration, continues to elude authorities amid a broadening pursuit.
This investigative escalation responds to escalating outcry from citizens and advocacy networks, who insist on an impartial, rigorous examination to expose truths and restore faith in institutional integrity.
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