Three staff arrested in Arunachal after 12-year-old Sainik School cadet’s death

Guwahati: Police in East Siang district, Arunachal Pradesh, have arrested three staff members in connection with the death of a 12-year-old cadet at Sainik School East Siang, following fresh allegations of severe bullying and torture by senior students.

The arrests, made on November 8, came after an in-depth investigation into the tragic death of Tadu Haro, a Class 7 student found dead at the school in Niglok on November 1.

The arrested individuals are Devendra Singh (42), house master of Subansiri House (Junior Cadet Wing), Kangge Darin (31), house master of Subansiri House (Senior Cadet Wing), and Amar Singh Thakur (51), hostel superintendent at the school.

Singh hails from Karhna village, Uttar Pradesh; Darin is from Yagrung village, East Siang; and Thakur is from Chrohal village, Bilaspur district, Himachal Pradesh.

The case took a dramatic turn following serious allegations made by the victim’s family.

Tadu Haro’s sister, Miss Arunachal 2024, Tadu Lunia, fueled these new claims by posting a video on Instagram on November 5.

In the video, Lunia accused the school's senior cadets of bullying and tormenting her brother in the hours leading up to his death.

Although the family was initially told that Haro died by suicide, further testimony from dormitory mates suggested extreme bullying may have driven him to take his own life.

Lunia’s account reveals that, on the night of October 31, a group of eight Class 10 students and three from Class 8 allegedly entered the Class 7 dormitory after 11 pm, when no staff were present.

The seniors reportedly forced the younger students to cover their heads with blankets and took Haro to the Class 10 dormitory.

"No one knows what happened behind that closed door," Lunia stated, adding that witnesses had told the family that Haro was mentally and physically harassed throughout the night.

The bullying reportedly started over a missing book, with Haro being falsely accused of theft and threatened with public humiliation during the school assembly.

Lunia further revealed that CCTV footage showed her brother pacing nervously around 5:45 am before entering a classroom.

In what appeared to be his final moments, Haro seemed to write a note, reportedly stating, "Seniors tortured me a lot, and I don’t know what I will do now."

The case has sparked widespread public outrage, leading to a candlelight march in Seppa on November 7.

Organized by the Women Welfare Organisation and other community groups, the march saw participants walk from Circuit House to General Ground in East Kameng district, calling for justice and accountability for Haro's death.

The Apatani Youth Association also submitted a formal letter to government officials, demanding immediate intervention.

They called for a full investigation into the incident, for suspending the involved students, and for closing the school until authorities fully investigate the case.

The youth body emphasized that authorities should charge the responsible parties under the appropriate legal provisions for any negligence or misconduct.

In response, police have detained eight students in connection with the incident and presented them before the Juvenile Justice Board in Pasighat.

The case, initially filed under Section 194 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, was reclassified after the victim's father filed a supplementary FIR on November 3, alleging ragging by senior students.

According to an official statement, the arrests followed a sustained investigation, witness testimonies, and an analysis of events leading up to the tragedy. Police have assured the public that further investigations are ongoing.