Guwahati: Arunachal Pradesh Deputy Chief Minister Chowna Mein on Tuesday came down heavily on the forest department over the recent tiger attack in Dibang Valley, describing the incident as a case of "gross negligence" and a "serious blunder" by officials.
Reacting to the death of a police constable in a suspected tiger attack along the Roing-Anini road, Mein said the tragedy could have been avoided had timely precautions been taken. "This is extremely sad and unfortunate. Such an incident should never have happened," he said.
Citing reports and social media posts, the Deputy Chief Minister pointed out that the presence of tigers in the Mayodia stretch had been known for nearly a month. "Videos and Facebook posts clearly showed tigers moving freely in the area. The forest department should have issued public advisories-warning commuters against night travel, asking motorcyclists not to ride alone, and urging people to take precautions. No such warnings were issued, and a human life has been lost," he said.
Mein said forest teams and tranquillising units have now been deployed to track the animal. "The tiger must be located, tranquillised, captured and relocated to a safer area," he said, adding that responsibility must be fixed for the lapse.
The deceased was identified as Chiksen Mangpang, a head constable from Manfaiseng village in Namsai district. He was killed on Sunday night while returning home after duty. Preliminary accounts suggest he was travelling alone through the forested Mayodia area when the attack occurred. A truck driver at the spot told authorities he saw a large animal dragging the biker off the road. The constable's motorcycle was later found abandoned along the roadside.
Forest and police officials have launched a joint operation to examine the site and confirm whether a tiger was responsible. The Divisional Forest Officer of Roing said investigations are ongoing to determine the exact cause of death.
Beyond the incident, Mein also addressed broader issues, including the upcoming state budget, power generation, the Lower Siang district headquarters, and student body elections. He said the state budget would be aligned with the Centre's "strong and people-oriented" approach, with greater emphasis on youth and education.
Highlighting Arunachal Pradesh's hydropower potential, Mein said several major projects are underway, with multiple 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.
Responding to objections over the proposed Lower Siang district headquarters, the Deputy Chief Minister termed the opposition "anti-development." "If people keep objecting and approaching courts, development will never move forward. Arunachal needs progress, not endless disputes," he said.
On student body elections, including the AAPSU polls, Mein appealed for restraint and peaceful conduct. "Elections should be held in the right spirit, peacefully, and the right candidate should emerge victorious," he added.

