Itanagar: Family members of deceased youth Gomchu Yekar gathered outside Nirjuli Police Station on October 27, demanding that senior IAS officer Talo Potom be denied bail following his surrender earlier in the morning. The protesters, joined by community members, raised slogans of “Talo Potom ko bail mat do,” insisting that the accused must face the full course of law.
Potom, posted as Special Under Secretary (PWD) in New Delhi, surrendered at 7:30 am after a two-day search operation triggered by a look-out notice issued in connection with Yekar’s alleged suicide. The Superintendent of Police, Naharlagun, confirmed the surrender in a case that has sparked widespread public outrage across Arunachal Pradesh.
Following his surrender, Potom released a video statement strongly denying all accusations made in Yekar’s purported suicide note. He claimed the allegations were “completely baseless,” stating that he first met Yekar during efforts to involve youth in addressing drug abuse and social issues. Potom said Yekar was later appointed as a multi-tasking staff member during his tenure as deputy commissioner of the Itanagar Capital Region.
According to Potom, tensions arose after his transfer to New Delhi, when Yekar was arrested for allegedly posing as a magistrate and collecting money from vendors. Potom said he refused requests from Yekar’s wife for assistance in securing his release, asserting that the law should take its course. The officer also denied any connection to Rural Works Department Executive Engineer Likweng Lowang, another individual named in the suicide note who also died by suicide.
Nirjuli Police Station registered Case No. 92/2025 under sections 108/271/272/3(5) of the BNS 2023, naming Potom as a prime accused. During the search, police found that his primary mobile number was being used by a domestic worker, and later learned he had switched SIM cards before leaving his residence.
The case revolves around a suicide note in which Yekar allegedly accused Potom and Lowang of sexual exploitation and mental harassment. The accusations have fueled intense public anger, with multiple organisations demanding immediate action.
The All Tagin Students’ Union (ATSU), led by general secretary Vijay Domin, has joined the family in seeking justice. Domin claimed that Yekar had contracted HIV/AIDS from the accused individuals, urging others who may have been affected to undergo testing. He confirmed that Yekar’s HIV-positive status had been medically verified and issued a one-day ultimatum to the state government, threatening to take the body from the TRIHMS mortuary and bury it at Potom’s residence if action is delayed.
The case has heightened tension in Itanagar and neighbouring areas, with civil society groups, student bodies, and the victim’s family calling for accountability at the highest levels. Police continue to record statements and examine evidence as the investigation moves forward.
