Seppa: The Women Welfare Organization, along with community-based groups, women’s wings, and students from various schools, held a peaceful candlelight march through Seppa on Monday evening, seeking justice for 12-year-old Tadu Haro, a Class 7 student of Sainik School Niglok, who was found dead on November 1.
The march began at Circuit House and ended at General Ground in East Kameng district, with participants walking between 4:00 pm and 6:00 pm. Holding candles in solemn tribute, the demonstrators demanded accountability for the young student’s death, which has sparked widespread outrage across Arunachal Pradesh.
Public anger has intensified following allegations made by the victim’s sister, Miss Arunachal 2024 Tadu Lunia, who claimed that her brother had been subjected to severe bullying and torture by senior students hours before his death.
In a video message posted on November 5, Lunia revealed that the family was initially informed that the boy had died by suicide. However, she said testimonies from his dormitory mates suggested he may have been driven to the act due to relentless harassment.
According to Lunia, several cadets told the family that on the night of October 31, a group of eight Class 10 students and three from Class 8 entered the Class 7 dormitory after 11 pm when no staff were on duty. The seniors allegedly forced the younger boys to cover their heads with blankets before taking Haro to the Class 10 dormitory. “No one knows what happened behind that closed door,” Lunia said, adding that eyewitnesses described her brother as being “mentally and physically tortured” throughout the night.
She further claimed that her brother had been falsely branded a “thief” over a missing book and threatened with public humiliation during school assembly. CCTV footage reportedly reviewed by investigators showed the boy pacing nervously around 5:45 am before entering a classroom, where he appeared to write a final note. “His last words were, ‘Seniors tortured me a lot, and I don’t know what I will do now,’” Lunia said.
Amid growing calls for justice, the Apatani Youth Association has submitted a memorandum to the Chief Minister, Governor, Chief Secretary, and Deputy Commissioner of East Siang District, demanding a thorough and transparent investigation into the incident. The organisation urged authorities to suspend or rusticate all students allegedly involved and place the school staff on duty under suspension pending enquiry.
They further called for the temporary closure of Sainik School Niglok until the investigation is complete, warning that any negligence uncovered should lead to strict legal action against those responsible.
