Fear continues to grip several areas of Arunachal Pradesh after a tiger killed head constable Chikseng Manpang in Mayudia in Lower Dibang Valley district last month. Since the incident, residents have been on edge whenever footprints of big cats are spotted. Officials now say that false images created using artificial intelligence are adding to the panic. Recently, a picture claiming that a tiger was seen in Kimin in Papum Pare district went viral on social media. The image caused anxiety among local residents. However, the district administration later clarified that the picture was not real.Papum Pare Deputy Commissioner Vishaka Yadav said that the footprint found in the area belonged to a leopard, not a tiger. She also confirmed that the picture being circulated online was fake and generated using AI.
Even so, authorities are not taking any chances. The range forest officer of the Subansiri forest range in Kimin has issued a public advisory. People have been asked not to move alone in forest areas or isolated places, especially in the early morning and evening hours. Residents have also been told to immediately inform the forest department or local authorities if they notice any movement of big cats.The forest department said it is closely monitoring the situation and taking necessary steps to ensure public safety.In another development, a big cat was seen in the early hours of Sunday on the main campus of Arunodaya University in Upper Jullang, located behind Lok Bhavan in Itanagar. Former MP Takam Sanjoy said the animal appeared on campus around 2 am and was captured on CCTV. He said it is still not clear whether the animal was a tiger or a leopard.
Sanjoy said he has raised the issue with Home Minister Mama Natung and sought his intervention. He added that after the Mayudia incident, authorities cannot afford to ignore such sightings.
