Police in Arunachal Pradesh’s East Siang district have arrested three staff members of Sainik School, East Siang, in connection with the death of a 12-year-old student. The incident has shocked the local community and sparked widespread calls for justice and accountability.
The deceased cadet, identified as Tadu Haro, was a Class 7 student at the school in Niglok. He was found dead on the morning of November 1 under circumstances that his family believes are linked to bullying and physical harassment by senior students.
After several days of investigation, police arrested three staff members — Devendra Singh (42), house master of Subansiri House (Junior Cadet Wing) from Uttar Pradesh; Kangge Darin (31), house master of Subansiri House (Senior Cadet Wing) from Yagrung village in East Siang; and Amar Singh Thakur (51), hostel superintendent from Himachal Pradesh. The arrests were made on November 8, and the case is registered under relevant sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) at the Ruksin Police Station. 
Speaking to NorthEast Scoop, Superintendent of Police, Pasighat, Pankaj Lamba confirmed the arrests and said, “Yes, the three staff members were taken into custody after a thorough investigation. We have gathered sufficient evidence linking them to negligence and possible misconduct related to the incident. The investigation is still ongoing and we expect more arrests in the coming days as further leads are being examined.” Lamba said that the police are committed to ensuring justice for the deceased cadet and that every aspect of the case will be thoroughly probed.
According to police, the arrests followed detailed questioning of witnesses, analysis of CCTV footage, and review of statements made by cadets and staff. Authorities stated that the case remains under investigation to determine the exact events leading up to the boy’s death.
The case gained wide attention after the victim’s sister, Miss Arunachal 2024, Tadu Lunia, posted a video on social media on November 5, claiming that her brother was severely bullied by senior students before his death. She said that the family was initially told he died by suicide, but later information from dormitory mates suggested he had been subjected to mental and physical torture the night before.
According to her, a group of eight Class 10 students and three from Class 8 allegedly entered the Class 7 dormitory after 11 p.m. on October 31, when no teachers or staff were present. The seniors reportedly forced the younger boys to cover their heads with blankets and then took Haro to the Class 10 dormitory.
“No one knows what happened after that,” Lunia said, adding that her brother was later found dead. She also claimed that he had been wrongly accused of stealing a book and was threatened with public humiliation.
Lunia further stated that CCTV footage viewed by investigators showed her brother walking nervously around 5:45 a.m. before entering a classroom, where he appeared to write a short note. “His last words were, ‘Seniors tortured me a lot, and I don’t know what I will do now,’” she said.
