Protest erupts in Arunachal as victim’s family demands no bail for IAS officer Talo Potom

Family members of the deceased Gomchu Yekar gathered at Nirjuli Police Station on October 27, demanding that senior IAS officer Talo Potom be denied bail following his surrender to police. The protesters chanted "Talo Potom ko Bail mat do" (No bail to Talo Potom) as authorities took the officer into custody.

 

Potom, currently posted as special under secretary (PWD) in New Delhi, surrendered at 7:30 am, ending a two-day manhunt after police issued a look-out notice against him. The Superintendent of Police, Naharlagun, confirmed the surrender in a case that has generated intense public anger across Arunachal Pradesh.

 

Shortly after his surrender, Potom released a video statement categorically denying all allegations mentioned in Yekar's suicide note, describing them as "totally false and baseless." He explained that he first met Yekar, then 19 years old, when the young man volunteered to help the administration address youth drug addiction and social issues. Potom recruited him as a multi-tasking staff (MTS) during his tenure as deputy commissioner of Itanagar Capital Region.

 

According to Potom, trouble began after his transfer to New Delhi when Yekar was arrested in a fake magistrate scam, allegedly collecting money from vendors whilst falsely claiming to represent the administration. Potom stated that Yekar's wife contacted him multiple times requesting money and assistance for his release, which he refused, maintaining that "the law will take its own course."

 

The IAS officer expressed shock at being named in Yekar's suicide note as responsible for abetment and denied any connection with Likweng Lowang, the rural works department executive engineer who also died by suicide. Potom concluded by urging respect for the law and reaffirmed his faith in the judiciary.

 

Nirjuli Police Station registered Case No. 92/2025 under sections 108/271/272/3(5) of the BNS 2023 on 25 October, naming Potom as a prime accused. During the search operation, police tracked his mobile phone data but discovered the device was being used by domestic help. Investigators later learnt that Potom had swapped his SIM card before leaving home.

 

The case centres on Yekar's purported suicide note, which allegedly accused Potom and executive engineer Lowang of sexual exploitation and mental harassment, claiming these actions drove him to take his own life.

 

The All Tagin Students' Union (ATSU), led by general secretary Vijay Domin, joined Yekar's family in demanding swift justice. The union issued a one-day ultimatum to the state government, threatening to remove the body from the TRIHMS mortuary and bury it at Potom's residence if authorities failed to act.

 

Speaking outside the mortuary, Domin alleged that Yekar had contracted HIV/AIDS from the accused individuals. He urged other potential victims to undergo medical testing and confirmed that Yekar's HIV-positive status had been medically verified.

 

The investigation continues as police examine evidence and statements related to the allegations. Civil society groups, student bodies, and the victim's family have demanded accountability from senior government officials, creating significant tension in Itanagar and surrounding areas.