Dead tigress found with gunshot wound after fatal attack on Arunachal cop

Dibrugarh: Authorities recovered the carcass of an adult tigress with a gunshot wound near Mayodia in Arunachal Pradesh on Thursday, three days after a tiger fatally mauled head constable Chikseng Manpang on Feb 2.

The tiger was found along the forested Mayodia stretch on the Roing-Anini road (NH-313), the same area where the attack took place and where recent tiger sightings have been reported, including a tigress with sub-adult cubs.


"We have recovered the body of a female tiger with a gunshot wound from the Mayodia area. An investigation has been launched to determine the circumstances surrounding its death. We urge the public to cooperate with authorities and refrain from taking any action that violates wildlife protection laws," a forest official said.

Manpang, 33, a resident of Manfaiseng village in Namsai district and a radio operator at Roing Police Station, was returning from Anini to Roing on his motorcycle after official duties when he was attacked on Monday evening. His motorcycle was found on the roadside, and his mutilated body was recovered the next day by a joint police-forest team after a search operation.

Following the killing, the Lower Dibang Valley district administration issued safety advisories restricting night travel, particularly on two-wheelers, along the high-risk stretch near Mehao Wildlife Sanctuary amid reports of tiger movement.

CM Pema Khandu, deputy CM Chowna Mein and other leaders expressed grief and announced departmental inquiries, ex gratia payments and enhanced preventive measures, including intensified forest patrolling. Authorities said the process has been initiated for ex-gratia assistance of Rs 10 lakh to the bereaved family, along with institutional support at the district level.

Forest and police officials are investigating whether the female tiger's death was linked to retaliatory action after the fatal attack or to other circumstances, as concerns grow over human-wildlife conflict in wildlife corridors.

Recently, multiple tiger sightings have stunned residents and travellers along the picturesque Mayodia road, with at least three big cats captured on video by tourists and motorists —an unprecedented occurrence in the area.

Local residents confirm tigers have never been spotted on the Mayodia road before. However, following a major forest fire that engulfed Mayodia hill and surrounding forested areas on Jan 16, the first tiger was sighted by a tourist on Jan 18. The video quickly circulated on social media, drawing widespread attention.

Since then, numerous motorists travelling through the area have encountered and filmed the tigers, with footage clearly showing at least three big cats roaming or resting near the roadside.

Wildlife experts suspect the tigers have been displaced from the Mehao Wildlife Sanctuary. The 281-square-km sanctuary is renowned for its diverse wildlife population, including tigers and the elusive clouded leopards.

The forest fire appears to have driven these apex predators from their natural habitat, forcing them into closer proximity with human populations.

The rarity of fatal human-tiger encounters in Arunachal Pradesh has amplified concerns about escalating human-wildlife conflict in wildlife corridors.