The Arunachal Pradesh Police has issued a lookout notice for Indian Administrative Service (IAS) officer Mr. Talo Potom, who has been named in a First Information Report (FIR) in connection with the alleged sexual abuse and suicide of a 19-year-old man on October 23.
Mr. Potom, currently serving as Secretary in the Public Works Department (PWD) of the Delhi government, has reportedly gone into hiding. The victim’s family has accused him of abetment to suicide and alleged police inaction. They have also declared that they will not receive the body until the officer is apprehended.
Twin Suicides Create Shockwaves Across Arunachal Pradesh
The case took a grim turn when another government official, Mr. Likwang Lowang, Executive Engineer of the Rural Works Department, allegedly died by suicide only hours after the teenager’s death.
In a suicide note recovered from the 19-year-old, the victim alleged sexual exploitation, emotional manipulation, and financial deceit. The note also mentioned that he had contracted HIV and was later blackmailed and abandoned. “The reason for my death is Talo Potom,” the note read. “If he hadn’t recruited me to this post, I wouldn’t have committed suicide.”
The victim’s father lodged an FIR at Nirjuli Police Station, naming both Mr. Potom and Mr. Lowang for abetment to suicide, sexual harassment, and mental torture.
SIT Constituted to Ensure Fair and Transparent Probe
Following massive public outrage, the Arunachal Pradesh Police has constituted a Special Investigation Team (SIT) to probe the alleged twin suicides involving senior bureaucrats.
Deputy Inspector General of Police (Itanagar Capital Region) Mr. Tumme Amo confirmed that the SIT is headed by Itanagar Sub-Divisional Police Officer (SDPO) Mr. Kengo Dirchi. Coordination has been initiated with the Superintendent of Police in Tirap district, as one of the deceased, Mr. Lowang, was reportedly mentioned in the suicide notes as HIV positive.
“We are awaiting the post-mortem report of Mr. Lowang. The same verification will be done for Mr. Potom after his arrest,” Mr. Amo told reporters.
Police Raids and Forensic Action Underway
A police team conducted a search at Mr. Potom’s Itanagar residence on Friday. According to investigators, the officer had replaced his SIM card and left his phone behind, possibly to mislead the investigation. Another SIM card was found in possession of his caretaker, who initially resisted the police entry. The devices and several documents have been seized for forensic examination.
The police have registered a case under Sections 108 (abetment of suicide), 271 and 272/3(5) (negligent or malicious acts likely to spread infection) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita.
Administrative and Public Response
The twin deaths have led to widespread outrage among citizens, civil society groups, and government employees in Arunachal Pradesh, who are demanding swift justice and transparency.
Officials have assured that the probe will be conducted impartially and that no one, regardless of rank or position, will be spared if found guilty. The SIT has been directed to submit a detailed report to ensure accountability and restore public confidence in the administrative system.
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