A rare and tragic wildlife conflict has gripped the Lower Dibang Valley after a Head Constable of the Arunachal Pradesh Police was killed in a tiger attack on the Roing-Mayodia highway earlier this week.
The victim,
Identified as Chikseng Manapang, was ambushed late at night while traveling alone on his motorcycle near the Mayodia pass, a region that cuts through the dense Mehao Wildlife Sanctuary.
The Incident,
Manapang, a resident of Namsai district posted as a radio operator at the Roing Police Station, was returning from official duty in Anini when the attack occurred. He was riding through a stretch of the highway known for recent wildlife activity when he was intercepted by a tiger.
A truck driver passing through the area later reported witnessing a large animal dragging a person off the road. A joint search operation launched by police and forest officials recovered Manapang’s body the following day. His motorcycle (registration AR-20-9866) was found abandoned at the scene.
Warnings Ignored?
The incident has sparked widespread public outrage and allegations of administrative negligence. Forest officials had reportedly confirmed frequent sightings of a tigress and her three sub-adult cubs in the area for nearly a month prior to the attack.
Deputy Chief Minister Chowna Mein has termed the incident “gross negligence” on the part of the Forest Department, criticizing the failure to issue timely warnings to commuters despite prior knowledge of the tigers’ presence. A First Information Report (FIR) has since been filed against the Divisional Forest Officer (DFO) of Roing by a local resident.
Immediate Travel RestrictionsIn,
Response to the tragedy, district authorities have issued an indefinite travel advisory for the Roing-Mayodia-Anini route.Two-wheelers and pedestrians are strictly banned from entering the 40–65 km stretch of the road. Night travel is strongly discouraged for all vehicles. Commuters in four-wheelers have been warned not to stop or step out of their vehicles within the sanctuary zone.
Expert Teams Deployed,
Wildlife experts from the Namdapha, Pakke, and Kamlang tiger reserves have been rushed to the site. Their primary objective is to track, tranquilize, and safely relocate the tigers to prevent further conflict.
The attack has sent shockwaves through the local community, particularly among the indigenous Idu Mishmi people, who hold a deep cultural reverence for tigers, viewing them as “elder brothers.” Attacks on humans in this region are historically unprecedented, making this incident a grim anomaly in the delicate balance between local conservation efforts and public safety.