The Arunachal Pradesh government has authorised the capture of a tiger that allegedly killed a police head constable along the Roing–Mayodia road inside Mehao Wildlife Sanctuary, even as the incident has triggered legal and political controversy over alleged lapses by forest authorities.
The decision to capture the animal was taken after Chikseng Manapang, a head constable posted at WT Police Station in Roing, was fatally attacked around midnight on February 2 while travelling through the forest stretch.
Invoking Section 11(1)(a) of the Wildlife Protection Act, 1972, the state’s Chief Wildlife Warden authorised the Divisional Forest Officer (DFO) of Mehao Wildlife Sanctuary to capture the tiger for rehabilitation. Officials said the operation will follow the Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) issued by the National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA).
Senior officials of the Environment, Forest and Climate Change Department, including the PCCF & Head of Forest Force and PCCF (Wildlife), reviewed the situation and ordered immediate action. Veterinary experts from Itanagar Zoo and CBRC, Pakke Tiger Reserve, along with trained STF personnel from Namdapha Tiger Reserve, have been deployed with tranquilising equipment. A technical expert committee has also been formed to monitor the operation.
Authorities have urged the public to avoid travelling through the affected stretch at night and to maintain distance from wildlife. The state government has announced ₹10 lakh ex-gratia compensation for the victim’s family.
Meanwhile, the incident has taken a legal turn with a resident of Dibang Valley filing an FIR against Roing DFO Mito Rumi, alleging gross negligence and dereliction of duty.
Nogoro Melo, a resident of Arzoo village, lodged the complaint at Roing Police Station on February 4, seeking action under multiple IPC sections, including 304A (causing death by negligence) and provisions related to public safety and criminal conspiracy.
The complainant alleged that the fatal attack was linked to a tiger that had been transported from a zoo and allowed to move near public routes such as the Hunli–Anini road, a claim yet to be officially confirmed. He also stated that repeated warnings, including a written representation by a Zilla Parishad member on January 29, and social media alerts about tiger movement were ignored.
Police said the complaint is under examination.
Adding to the controversy, Deputy Chief Minister Chowna Mein described the incident as a result of “gross negligence” and a “serious blunder” by the forest department.
He said the presence of tigers in the Mayodia stretch had been known for weeks through social media posts and local reports. “The department should have issued advisories asking commuters not to travel at night or alone. No such notice was given,” Mein said, stressing the need for accountability.
Forest and police teams are jointly investigating the site to confirm the species responsible for the attack. The Roing DFO said inquiries are underway to establish the exact cause of death.
