Itanagar: Former Arunachal Pradesh MLA Kapchen Rajkumar was killed in a tragic elephant attack on the morning of July 9 while walking from his native Namsang village to Deomali town in Tirap district. The 65-year-old former legislator, who had represented the then Khonsa North Assembly Constituency from 1985 to 1990, was fatally mauled by a wild elephant, police confirmed.
The incident sent shockwaves across the state, with Chief Minister Pema Khandu leading the outpouring of condolences. “I am deeply saddened to hear about the tragic passing of Late Kapchen Rajkumar, former MLA from Tirap, who fell victim to a very unfortunate incident. His dedication to serving the community and his contributions to our society will always be remembered,” Khandu stated on social media. He further noted that Rajkumar’s commitment to public welfare and his role in Tirap’s progress would remain a part of his enduring legacy. The Chief Minister also confirmed that instructions had been issued to process ex-gratia support for the bereaved family.
Tirap Superintendent of Police Aditya confirmed the incident, stating that Rajkumar was attacked en route to Deomali during his morning walk, a routine he reportedly followed regularly. The news has raised fresh concerns about human-wildlife conflict in the region, especially as wild elephants have increasingly been reported in inhabited areas due to shrinking forest cover and food sources.
Rajkumar was born on April 15, 1960, in Namsang village to Wangmei Rajkumar, a former acting village chief. He pursued his early education at Ramakrishna Mission School in Narottamnagar, Deomali, and later at Government Higher Secondary School, Khonsa. He had also undergone commercial pilot training at Safdarjung Airport in New Delhi—an unusual and ambitious pursuit for someone from his remote region.
State Environment and Forest Minister Wangki Lowang, who currently represents the Namsang constituency, also expressed his grief. “Deeply saddened to hear that former MLA Kapchen Rajkumar lost his life in a tragic wild elephant attack this morning while walking from Namsang village to Deomali. My heartfelt condolences to his family. May his soul rest in peace,” Lowang wrote.
Rajkumar is survived by his wife and several children. His last rites are scheduled to be held on Thursday in his native village, where a large gathering of locals, political leaders, and well-wishers is expected to pay their respects.
The tragic incident has brought renewed focus to the urgent need for strengthened human-wildlife conflict mitigation measures in forest-adjacent regions like Tirap, where residents continue to live in close proximity to wild elephant corridors.
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