May 19, 2024
May 19, 2024
Staff REPORTER
NAHARLAGUN, May 05: A touching tribute was paid by thousands to Gyamar Padang, the whistle blower of the infamous Arunachal Pradesh Public Service Commission (APPSC) paper leak case of 2022 on his first death anniversary at his residence here on Sunday.
Padang, known for exposing the APPSC paper leak scam, passed away on May 03, 2023, after a prolonged illness.
His courage and integrity in exposing corruption were remembered and honored by the community.
Prominent figures like independent MP candidate Techi Rana, Pan Arunachal Joint Steering Committee (PAJSC) chairman Techi Puru, Arunachal Pradesh Congress Committee general secretary Gyamar Tana and Arunachal Olympics Association secretary general Bamang Tago paid homage to Padang on the day.
The gathering also included social activists like Taw Paul, Sol Dodum and Nabam Tama, among others.
During the commemoration ceremony, a statue was unveiled at Padang's gravesite, and a two-minute silence was observed in his memory.
Attendees supported the idea of erecting a statue in his honor and advocated for the implementation of a Whistle-Blower Act in the state assembly.
Addressing media persons on the sidelines of the event, Puru thanked the people of Arunachal for their support to Padang's family and their commitment to addressing the issue of paper leakage.
He, however, criticized the government's response to the PAJSC’s 13-point charter of demands as inadequate and insincere.
Regarding assurances made by the new Arunachal Pradesh Public Service Commission (APPSC) chairman, Prof Pradip Lingfa, to implement robust Standard Operating Procedures (SOP) for future examinations, Puru dismissed it as mere lip service, citing past failures.
He emphasized that Padang's revelations brought the issue of paper leakage into the public domain, highlighting the need for genuine accountability and reform within the commission.
Padang, an aspiring assistant engineer (AE) in the civil examination had on August 29, 2022, filed an FIR at the Itanagar police station, alleging that the question papers for the APPSC exam had been leaked.
Initially, the Itanagar police investigated the case, which was later transferred to the Special Investigation Cell (SIC) of the state police.
The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) assumed control of the investigation at the state government's recommendation in October 2022.
