A routine morning walk ended in tragedy for former Arunachal Pradesh MLA Kapchen Rajkumar, who was killed in a suspected wild elephant attack on Wednesday. The 65-year-old was walking from Deomali to Namsang village in Tirap district, an area known for its dense forests and wildlife.
Rajkumar, who represented the then Khonsa North Assembly Constituency from 1985 to 1990, was widely admired for his dedication to public service and the development of Tirap. His sudden demise has left the local community and political circles in shock.
Expressing his condolences on Facebook, Chief Minister Pema Khandu wrote, "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." Khandu praised Rajkumar’s tireless work for the welfare of the people and progress of Tirap, adding that his legacy would continue to inspire. The Chief Minister also assured that the government has begun the process of providing compensation to support Rajkumar’s family.
The late leader was the son of Wangmai Rajkumar, former Acting Chief of Namsang. He studied at Ramakrishna Mission School in Deomali and Government Higher Secondary School in Khonsa before pursuing Commercial Pilot Training at Delhi’s Safdarjung Airport.
Family members believe the fatal attack came from a wild elephant, and his body was recovered later that morning. The last rites will be performed in his native village of Namsang, honouring a life devoted to public service and the welfare of his community.