Thousands gathered at Gyamar Padang’s residence in Naharlagun, Arunachal Pradesh, to honour the memory of the late whistleblower of the APPSC paper leakage scandal, marking the first anniversary of his passing on May 5.
Gyamar Padang, renowned for his role in exposing the APPSC paper leak scam, passed away on May 5, 2023, after battling illness at the Asian Institution Gastroenterology Hospital in Hyderabad. His courageous stance against corruption earned him widespread recognition and respect within the community.
The tribute ceremony saw the attendance of notable personalities, including PAJSC’s Independent candidate Techi Rana, Pan Arunachal Joint Steering Committee Chairman Techi Puru, Arunachal Pradesh Congress Committee General Secretary Gyamar Tana, and Arunachal Olympics Association Secretary-General Bamang Tago, among others. Besides, social activists such as Taw Paul, Sol Dodum, Nabam Tama, and singer Tai Chali paid their respects.
During the event, a statue was unveiled at Gyamar Padang’s gravesite, accompanied by a solemn two-minute silence in his honour. Attendees advocated for the installation of a statue to commemorate Padang’s integrity and suggested the enactment of a Whistle-blower Act in the State assembly.
The paper leak scandal, brought to light by Padang when he filed an FIR on August 28, 2022, at the Itanagar police station, sparked significant controversy and ultimately led to his unfortunate demise.
PAJSC Chairman Techi Puru expressed gratitude for the community’s support to Padang’s family and their dedication to addressing the issue of paper leakage within the State’s recruiting agency. However, he criticised the government’s response as insufficient and insincere, particularly regarding their commitments to address the committee’s 13-point charter of demands.
Puru dismissed assurances from the new APPSC Chairman, Prof Pradip Lingfa, regarding the implementation of robust Standard Operating Procedures (SOP) for future examinations, labelling it as mere rhetoric. He emphasised Padang’s pivotal role in exposing the scandal and stressed the necessity for genuine accountability and reform within the commission.
