The Special Investigation Cell (SIC) of Arunachal Pradesh police has arrested Mikjar Ngulom, also known as June Lendo, a 32-year-old native of New Bomte village. This arrest is part of an ongoing investigation into illegal appointments of primary teachers and other staff members within the education department in Lower Siang district.
The arrest follows a case registered by the SIC on February 3, based on a report from the director of elementary education. Superintendent of Police (SP) Anant Mittal revealed that Ngulom’s arrest was the result of thorough scrutiny of documents, suspect interrogations, and technical analysis related to the case.
Prior to Ngulom’s arrest, the SIC apprehended Talem Jamoh, a former deputy director of school education, on May 1, based on a complaint regarding illegal appointments in Siang district. Jamoh, a native of Napit village in East Siang district, was charged after detailed document analysis and interrogations of those involved.
In total, the Arunachal Pradesh government has terminated the services of 256 teachers, clerks, and multi-tasking staff for producing forged appointment orders without following the education department’s formal procedures. The SIC has made eight arrests in connection with this case so far.
Additionally, on January 22, Igo Doye, a 51-year-old former DDSE from Changlang, was arrested in Lower Siang district as part of the investigation into unlawful teacher recruitment in Changlang district. Doye had previously been posted in Khonsa, Tirap District.
These arrests stem from a series of raids conducted by the SIC across Arunachal Pradesh and Assam, with the initial crackdown occurring just three days before the first arrest was made. In June 2023, the state government took decisive action by terminating the contracts of all 28 primary teachers implicated in the scandal, following findings from a Fact-Finding Committee led by Education Minister Taba Tedir.