Itanagar: The Arunachal Pradesh Police on Monday morning apprehended former Itanagar Capital Region (ICR) deputy commissioner Talo Potom in connection with the sensational twin suicide case involving allegations of sexual abuse, coercion and corruption, a senior police officer said.
Potom, currently posted as Special Secretary (PWD) with the Delhi government, surrendered at Nirjuli police station around 7.30 am after authorities issued a look out notice against him, Papum Pare Superintendent of Police Neelam Nega said.
He had remained untraceable since the matter came to light on Thursday, prompting police to issue a look-out notice against him.
Soon after his surrender, a video statement by Potom surfaced in which the IAS officer categorically denied all the allegations mentioned in the suicide note of the late Gomchu Yekar, describing them as “completely false and baseless.”
Potom was wanted in a case registered under several provisions of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) 2023, including those related to abetment to suicide and criminal misconduct.
The case pertains to the death of Gomchu Yekar, a young Multi-Tasking Staff (MTS), who died by suicide at his rented apartment at Lekhi village in Nirjuli on October 23.
In the video, Potom explained how he first met Yekar, a 19-year-old who had voluntarily shown interest in working with the administration on issues such as youth drug addiction and other social concerns. Recognizing his enthusiasm, Potom said he appointed Yekar as a Multi-Tasking Staff (MTS) to assist the Itanagar Capital Region administration during his tenure as Deputy Commissioner.
A handwritten note found at the spot allegedly mentioned harassment and coercion by two senior officials—Potom and Rural Works Department (RWD) Executive Engineer Likwang Lowang. Lowang also died by suicide the same day at his residence in Longding district, police said.
Police had initially registered a case of unnatural death under Section 194 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS) at the Nirjuli Police Station. However, the case took a serious turn after Yekar’s family claimed that multiple suicide notes were recovered, in which he made grave allegations against both officials.
In the notes, Yekar alleged that he had been subjected to prolonged sexual exploitation and harassment, claiming that continuous humiliation, coercion, and threats had driven him to take his own life.
The notes also mentioned alleged intimate relationships, manipulation, unfulfilled financial promises, and subsequent threats.
In one of them, Yekar claimed he had contracted HIV and accused one of the officials of “abandoning and blackmailing” him.
