Itanagar: Disturbing news are pouring in with worrying regularity from different parts of India.
Even as the country is struggling to process the shocking suicide of a female doctor in Maharashtra, the northeast has been rocked by a twin death case in Arunachal Pradesh. A 19-year-old man and a senior government engineer were found dead in separate incidents within hours of each other, sending shockwaves across the state.
On Thursday, Gomchu Yekar, a youth from Lekhi village near Itanagar, was found dead in his rented accommodation. Police recovered multiple handwritten suicide notes from the scene, in which he accused two government officials — former Itanagar Capital Region Deputy Commissioner Talo Potom and Rural Works Department (RWD) Executive Engineer Likwang Lowang — of sexual exploitation and harassment.
Gomchu claimed that he was coerced, threatened and mentally tortured, leading him to the extreme step of taking his own life. His father Tagom Yekar has lodged an FIR at Nirjuli police station, accusing both officials of abetment to suicide and demanding a CBI probe.
The case took a sharp turn as within hours of this revelation, the body of one of the named officials — RWD engineer Likwang — was discovered at his home by a neighbour who noticed the door ajar and raised an alarm after receiving no response from inside.
According to preliminary investigation, Likwang killed himself with firearm.
Likwang’s death has deepened the mystery, sending police into overdrive.
The twin deaths have triggered widespread anger and protests, with civil society organisations and student bodies demanding transparency and accountability.
Social media platforms have been flooded with posts under hashtags like #JusticeForYekar and #ArunachalTwinDeathCase, calling for immediate action against those responsible.
Authorities have promised a thorough probe. The state police indicated that all angles — including psychological, political and criminal — are being examined.
The truth will hopefully be revealed sooner than later, but the tragic deaths have raised questions about abuse of power, youth vulnerability and systemic accountability.
