Roing, Lower Dibang Valley, Arunachal Pradesh – A dramatic encounter unfolded when a tigress attacked an on-duty Arunachal Pradesh Police constable near Mayodia in Lower Dibang Valley district. The officer opened fire in self-defence, fatally injuring the animal. The incident occurred on February 5, 2026, amid heightened tension following repeated tiger sightings and a recent fatal human attack in the same area.
The constable, part of a mobile patrol team monitoring the Mayodia Road stretch after earlier advisories, was suddenly charged by the tigress while he had stepped out of the vehicle briefly. In a split-second reaction to save his life, he discharged his service weapon (INSAS rifle), hitting the animal in the chest and neck region. The tigress succumbed to injuries on the spot.
No human casualty was reported in this particular incident, though the constable suffered minor scratches and is undergoing treatment at the district hospital in Roing.
Sequence of Events
- Location: Mayodia area along the Roing–Mayodia road, a known tiger corridor linking forests near Mehao Wildlife Sanctuary.
- Time: Early afternoon patrol duty.
- Trigger: Tigress emerged from roadside thicket and charged directly at the constable.
- Response: Constable fired 2–3 rounds in self-defence; tigress collapsed within 20–30 metres.
- Aftermath: Forest and police teams reached the site; carcass was secured for post-mortem and sent to the state forensic lab.
Official Statements & Actions
Arunachal Pradesh Police confirmed the incident was purely in self-defence and that the constable followed standard operating procedure when under direct life threat. A magisterial inquiry has been ordered as per protocol involving firearm discharge resulting in death of a wild animal.
The Principal Chief Conservator of Forests (PCCF) and Wildlife authorities have initiated:
- Detailed post-mortem to determine age, sex, health condition, and whether the tigress was lactating or had cubs nearby
- Camera-trap intensification in the corridor
- Review of existing early-warning systems along the road
- Community meetings to reinforce “do not approach wildlife” advisories
The forest department has reiterated that the Mayodia Road remains out of bounds for pedestrians and two-wheelers until further orders.
Context of Rising Tiger–Human Interface
This is the second major tiger-related incident in Lower Dibang Valley within days:
- A farmer was killed by a tiger in his field recently, leading to protests and an FIR against the Roing DFO for alleged negligence.
- Frequent camera-trap images and pugmarks along Mayodia Road prompted the earlier public advisory.
Wildlife experts note that tigers in the region are increasingly using roadside vegetation as cover during winter dispersal, while habitat pressure and prey base fluctuation push them closer to human settlements.
The police constable’s action has been widely viewed locally as unavoidable, though animal rights groups and some conservationists have called for a transparent inquiry to rule out any avoidable escalation.
The case once again highlights the urgent need for better conflict mitigation tools (solar fencing, community response teams, habitat enrichment) in Arunachal Pradesh’s tiger-bearing landscapes.
Relevant Tags
Tiger Attack Arunachal Police, Constable Shoots Tigress, Lower Dibang Valley Tiger Incident, Mayodia Road Tiger, Self-Defence Shooting Tiger, Human-Tiger Conflict Arunachal, Roing Police Action, Mehao Wildlife Sanctuary Corridor, Northeast Tiger Safety, Arunachal Forest Department
Hashtags
#TigerAttack #ArunachalPolice #LowerDibangValley #MayodiaTiger #TigressShot #HumanTigerConflict #ArunachalPradesh #NortheastWildlife #TigerCorridor #WildlifeSafety
