Arunachal Dy CM Chowna Mein slams forest department over tiger attack, calls it gross negligence

Arunachal Pradesh Deputy Chief Minister Chowna Mein on February 4, strongly criticised the forest department, calling the recent tiger attack in Dibang Valley a case of “gross negligence” and a “serious blunder” on the part of officials.

Reacting to the death of a police constable in a suspected tiger attack along the Roing–Anini road, Mein said the incident could have been prevented had the forest department acted responsibly. “This is very sad and unfortunate. Such an incident should never have happened,” he said.

Referring to reports and social media posts, the Deputy CM noted that the presence of tigers in the Mayodia stretch had been known for nearly a month. “There were videos and posts on Facebook showing tigers moving freely in the area. The forest department should have issued public advisories, warning commuters not to travel at night, not to ride motorcycles alone, and to take precautions. No such notice was given, and a human life has been lost,” he said.

Mein said the government has now deployed forest teams and tranquilising units to track the animal. “The tiger must be located, tranquillised, captured, and relocated to a safer area,” he added, reiterating that accountability must be fixed for the lapse.

The victim, identified as Chiksen Mangpang, a head constable from Manfaiseng village in Namsai district, was killed on Sunday night while returning home after duty. Preliminary accounts suggest he was travelling alone through the forested Mayodia area when a wild animal attacked him. A truck driver at the site told authorities he saw a large animal dragging the biker off the road. The constable’s motorcycle was later found abandoned by the roadside.

Forest and police officials have launched a joint operation to assess the scene and confirm whether a tiger was responsible. The Divisional Forest Officer (DFO) of Roing said investigations were underway to establish the exact cause of death.

Beyond the incident, the Deputy Chief Minister also spoke on a range of issues, including the upcoming state budget, power generation, the Lower Siang district headquarters, and student body elections. He said the state budget would align with the Centre’s “strong and people-oriented” budget, with enhanced focus on youth and education.

On power generation, Mein highlighted Arunachal Pradesh’s growing hydropower potential. “Major projects are underway, with several gigawatts already signed and more in the pipeline. In the coming years, hydropower could generate annual revenues of up to Rs 10,000 crore,” he said.

Addressing objections to the proposed district headquarters in Lower Siang, Mein termed the opposition “anti-development.” “If people keep objecting and going to court, development will never happen. Arunachal needs development, not endless disputes,” he said.

On student elections, including AAPSU polls, the Deputy CM appealed for calm. “Elections should be peaceful, conducted in the right spirit, and the right candidate should win,” he said.