Arunachal: Thousands pay tribute to APPSC paper leak scam whistleblower Gyamar Padang on first death Anniversary

On the first anniversary of the passing of Gyamar Padang, the whistle-blower in the APPSC paper leakage scandal, a poignant tribute was paid by thousands who gathered at his residence in Naharlagun, Arunachal Pradesh on May 5.

Gyamar Padang, who exposed the APPSC paper leak scam, breathed his last on May 5th, 2023, at the Asian Institution Gastroenterology Hospital in Hyderabad after battling a prolonged illness. His demise was mourned by the community, who recognized his courage and integrity in the face of corruption.

Among those who paid homage to Gyamar Padang were prominent figures such as Techi Rana, an independent candidate representing PAJSC, Techi Puru, Chairman of the Pan Arunachal Joint Steering Committee, Gyamar Tana, General Secretary of the Arunachal Pradesh Congress Committee, and Bamang Tago, Secretary-General of the Arunachal Olympics Association, among others. The gathering also included social activists like Taw Paul, Sol Dodum, Nabam Tama, and Tai Chali, the singer.

During the commemoration ceremony, the statue at Gyamar Padang's gravesite was unveiled, and a solemn two-minute silence was observed in his memory. The attendees voiced their support for the idea of erecting a statue in honor of Padang's unwavering honesty and integrity, as well as advocating for the implementation of a Whistle-blower Act in the state assembly.

It was on August 28th, 2022, that Gyamar Padang filed an FIR regarding the APPSC paper leak scam at the Itanagar police station, initiating a series of events that ultimately led to his untimely demise.

Techi Puru, Chairman of PAJSC, expressed gratitude to the people of Arunachal Pradesh for their solidarity with Padang's family and their commitment to addressing the issue of paper leakage in the state's premier recruiting agency. However, he criticized the government's response, labeling it as inadequate and insincere, particularly regarding their pledges to address the 13-point charter of demands put forth by the committee.

Regarding assurances made by the new Chairman of APPSC, Prof. Pradip Lingfa, to implement robust Standard Operating Procedures (SOP) for future examinations, Puru dismissed it as mere lip service, citing past failures in upholding such promises. He emphasized that it was Padang's revelations that brought the issue of paper leakage into the public domain, highlighting the need for genuine accountability and reform within the commission.

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