Guwahati: Rakhini Mipi, an RTI activist and Rifleman with the 24th Assam Rifles, was found dead under mysterious circumstances at Hunli in Arunachal Pradesh’s Lower Dibang Valley district on Sunday morning, The Arunachal Times reported.
Mipi’s body was found hanging in the bathroom of an Army transit camp near the Circuit House at around 7:10 am, Hunli police station officer-in-charge Inspector Mohon Mili said.
Mipi was travelling to Anini with his unit for an Armed Forces warfare exercise. The 24th Assam Rifles had reached Hunli on the evening of October 3 and was scheduled to leave for Anini the following morning.
Police have registered a case of unnatural death and launched an investigation. The body was taken to Roing for a post-mortem examination and later handed over to Mipi’s family.
Police have not ruled out the possibility of foul play and said the angle would be examined after statements are recorded from Mipi’s family members.
Mipi was known for using the Right to Information Act to raise questions about government projects. He had highlighted alleged irregularities in several projects, including those under the Jal Jeevan Mission in two Dibang Valley districts.
On August 10, Mipi had also raised concerns on social media over the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls in Dibang Valley. He alleged that a considerable number of non-Arunachal Pradesh Scheduled Tribes (APSTs) had been enrolled, warning that this could raise concerns about gerrymandering in the future.
He had also opposed the Siang Upper Multipurpose Project (SUMP), questioning attempts by authorities to conduct a pre-feasibility report despite opposition to the proposed dam from local residents.
Mipi had further filed a petition before the National Green Tribunal in Kolkata against the National Highways and Infrastructure Development Corporation Limited (NHIDCL) and EPC contractors involved in NH-313, alleging environmental violations.