In a deeply distressing incident, the death of a Class 7 student at Sainik School, East Siang, has taken a grim turn after his sister, Miss Arunachal 2024, Tadu Lunia, alleged that her 12-year-old brother, Haro, was subjected to brutal bullying and physical abuse by senior students on the night before his death.
Speaking in an emotional video posted on Instagram, Lunia claimed that school authorities initially informed the family that Haro had died by suicide. However, after speaking to several of his classmates and dormitory mates, the family learned of alleged ragging, mental harassment, and physical torture that reportedly took place inside the hostel on October 31.
According to her statement, eight Class 10 students and three from Class 8 allegedly entered the Class 7 dormitory at night when no warden was on duty. They reportedly forced the younger students to cover themselves with blankets—except Haro—before taking him to the Class 10 dormitory.
“Eyewitnesses said my brother was not allowed to sleep and was mentally and physically tortured for hours. Nobody knows what happened behind that closed door,” Lunia said, breaking down during the video.
She appealed to the people of Arunachal Pradesh to stand with the family in their fight for justice, saying, “I lost my brother today — it could be anyone’s tomorrow if we don’t take the right steps now.”
The Arunachal Pradesh Police have registered a case under charges of abetment to suicide. So far, eight students, all minors, have been apprehended and produced before the Juvenile Justice Board (JJB) in Pasighat. They have been placed in the custody of the school’s vice principal for one week, pending further investigation.
Authorities confirmed that the investigation is ongoing, with evidence being collected to determine the sequence of events leading to the student’s death.
The incident has triggered widespread public outrage and grief across the state, with calls growing for stricter anti-ragging measures, accountability from school authorities, and enhanced oversight in residential educational institutions.
