A cloud of grief and outrage hangs over Arunachal Pradesh following the deaths of a 19-year-old and a senior government official in what appears to be a double suicide case. The incidents have ignited a firestorm of controversy, with allegations of sexual exploitation, manipulation, and threats at the center of the tragedy.
On October 23, 2025, Gomchu Yekar, a 19-year-old resident of Lekhi village near Itanagar, was found dead in his rented accommodation. A suicide note recovered from the scene pointed fingers at IAS officer Talo Potom and Likwang Lowang, an Executive Engineer in the Rural Works Department (RWD), accusing them of prolonged sexual harassment, coercion, and emotional manipulation. Yekar's note explicitly stated that the alleged exploitation was the driving force behind his decision to end his life, branding it as abetment to suicide. He detailed instances of manipulation, broken financial promises and abandonment after he allegedly contracted HIV. The note also alleges Potom pressured Yekar into corrupt departmental practices after appointing him as a contractual Multi-Tasking Staff (MTS).
The family of the deceased has called for a thorough and independent investigation, demanding the preservation of crucial evidence, including call records and electronic communications. Tagom Yekar, Gomchu's father, filed a First Information Report (FIR) at the Nirjuli Police Station, charging Potom and Lowang under relevant sections of the Indian Penal Code for abetment to suicide, sexual assault, and criminal intimidation. He described the suicide note as a "dying declaration".
In a stunning turn of events, just hours after Yekar's body was discovered, Likwang Lowang, one of the individuals accused in the suicide note, was also found dead. The circumstances surrounding his death are currently under investigation.
The allegations have sent shockwaves through Arunachal Pradesh, raising serious questions about the conduct of senior officials and workplace exploitation. Activists are calling for a comprehensive investigation, not only into the specific allegations of this case but also into the broader issue of workplace harassment and exploitation within various government departments. They emphasize the importance of functional Internal Complaints Committees (IC) in all offices to prevent sexual harassment at the workplace.
The case has drawn attention to the power dynamics within government offices, where civil servants often wield significant influence. Concerns have been raised about whether the Arunachal Pradesh Chief Minister will empower the police to conduct a thorough investigation and hold all culprits accountable.
