Itanagar: The family of suspended IAS officer Talo Potom has appealed to the public and media to refrain from spreading defamatory remarks or engaging in a media trial over the death of social worker Gomchu Yekar, stressing that justice must be allowed to take its course through the court of law.
Addressing a press conference at the Arunachal Press Club in Itanagar, Potom’s brother, Toko Puna, expressed deep sorrow over Yekar’s death and clarified that the family fully respects the judicial process.
“We, as family members, will abide by the law and accept whatever verdict the court delivers. We sincerely urge everyone to stop defaming our family on social media,” Puna said. “We had also advised our elder brother to surrender on the very first day,” he added.
Puna condemned the slogans such as “Hang Potom” and “He is a rapist” that were raised outside the Yupia Sessions Court during recent hearings, calling them distressing and unfair to the family.
“Justice should be the primary goal. We also sympathise with the family of late Gomchu Yekar. If our brother is found guilty, he must be punished as per the law,” he stated.
The family also criticised the acts of vandalism allegedly committed by some activists during the court proceedings, including damage to court property, describing such behaviour as “unjustified and hurtful.”
Responding to allegations circulating online, Puna said certain individuals were attempting to malign Potom by linking him to past official actions taken during his tenure as Deputy Commissioner of the Itanagar Capital Region (ICR).
“Our brother carried out eviction drives against illegal constructions solely for developmental purposes, such as the four-lane highway project. He never acted for personal gain,” Puna explained.
He further raised concerns about Potom’s safety in jail, claiming that some individuals harboured grudges against him for his previous administrative actions.
Clarifying that the issue should not be viewed through a communal lens, Puna asserted, “This is not a Tagin or Nyishi issue. Crime has no tribe. We request everyone to treat this matter as a legal one, not a communal conflict.”
Reaffirming the family’s faith in the judiciary, Puna concluded, “We will continue to cooperate with the police and the administration. But if the court eventually gives a clean chit to our brother, how will his tarnished image be restored?”
