ITANAGAR– Former Arunachal Pradesh legislator Kapchen Rajkumar tragically lost his life on Wednesday after being trampled by a wild elephant while walking from Namsang village to Deomali town in Tirap district, officials confirmed.
The 65-year-old former MLA is survived by his wife and several children. He served as a member of the Arunachal Pradesh Legislative Assembly from the then Khonsa North constituency between 1985 and 1990.
Chief Minister Pema Khandu expressed deep sorrow over Rajkumar’s untimely death and instructed officials to expedite the provision of ex-gratia financial assistance to the bereaved family.
“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 wrote in a post on X (formerly Twitter).
“His dedication to serving the community and his contributions to our society will always be remembered. Late Kapchen Rajkumar’s commitment to the welfare of the people and his relentless pursuit of progress for Tirap will leave a lasting legacy.”
Calling the loss “profound,” the Chief Minister added, “Necessary instructions have been issued to process the ex-gratia grant. My thoughts and prayers are with his family and loved ones. May they find strength and comfort in the cherished memories they hold of him.”
Arunachal Pradesh Governor Lt. General K.T. Parnaik (Retd.) also offered condolences, calling Rajkumar’s passing a significant loss for the state and its people. In a statement from Raj Bhavan, the Governor said, “Late Rajkumar was a dedicated social activist whose unwavering commitment to the welfare of the people of Tirap district will always be remembered with respect and gratitude.”
Born on April 15, 1960, in Namsang village, Rajkumar was the son of Wangmei Rajkumar, a former acting village chief. He studied at Ramakrishna Mission School in Narottamnagar, Deomali, and later attended Government Higher Secondary School in Khonsa. Before entering politics, he pursued commercial pilot training at Safdarjung Airport in New Delhi.
Family members said Rajkumar’s last rites will be held on Thursday in his native village of Namsang.
State Forest and Environment Minister Wangki Lowang, who currently represents the Namsang constituency, also mourned Rajkumar’s death.
“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,” Lowang wrote in a Facebook post. “He was a resident of Namsang village in Tirap district, Arunachal Pradesh. My heartfelt condolences to his family. May his soul rest in peace.”
Rajkumar was widely respected across the region for his leadership and dedication to public service. (Source: IANS)
