UKHRUL: 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, reported the Arunachal Times.
Hunli Police Station Officer-in-Charge Inspector Mohon Mili said the deceased identified as Rakhini Mipi, was found hanging inside the bathroom of an Army transit camp near the Circuit House at around 7:10 am.
According to the report, Mipi was travelling with his unit to Anini for an armed forces warfare exercise. The 24th Assam Rifles unit had reached Hunli on the evening of October 3 and was scheduled to proceed to Anini the following morning.
Police have registered a case of unnatural death and launched an investigation into the circumstances surrounding Mipi’s death. According to Lower Dibang Valley police, his body was taken to Roing for a post-mortem examination before being handed over to his family.
Police have not ruled out the possibility of foul play, although officials said this aspect would be examined after statements are recorded from Mipi’s family members.
Mipi was known for using the Right to Information (RTI) Act to raise questions concerning government projects and alleged irregularities.
In October 2022, Mipi had raised allegations of irregularities in the execution of roads under the Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojana (PMGSY). He alleged that several structures approved in the Detailed Project Reports (DPRs) had not been constructed, while some of those constructed did not conform to prescribed specifications. He also alleged that population figures had been manipulated in the DPRs, with higher figures shown for areas with relatively smaller populations.
Mipi subsequently issued what he described as a 90-day ultimatum to the Deputy Commissioner, seeking rectification of the issues he had raised, disciplinary action against government officials and action against firms allegedly found to have appointed fake engineers and laboratory technicians.
In August 2025, Mipi also alleged that the National Hydroelectric Power Corporation (NHPC) had violated provisions of various laws, including the Forest (Conservation) Act, 1980, the Forest Rights Act, 2006, and the Water (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act, 1974, in connection with the construction of the 2,880-MW Dibang Multipurpose Project.
He was also active on social media, where he frequently raised issues concerning development projects and public services in Arunachal Pradesh.
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In September, while commenting on the proposed Siang Upper Multipurpose Project, Mipi questioned the government’s approach to the construction of dams in areas where local communities had expressed opposition. He also raised concerns over what he described as the construction of assets for compensation and in anticipation of the project.
In another post, he raised concerns over the augmentation of water supply in Anini, alleging that despite crores of rupees being sanctioned for the project, residents were not receiving sufficient, safe and clean drinking water due to alleged mismanagement by the executing agency.
On August 10, Mipi also raised concerns over the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls in Dibang Valley district. He alleged that a considerable number of non-APSTs had been enrolled, and expressed concern that this could lead to gerrymandering in the future.
The circumstances surrounding Mipi’s death remain under investigation.
