ITANAGAR, SEP 23:
Arunachal Pradesh Police have arrested one person and identified all 13 accused allegedly involved in the assault on Sikkimese rapper Ugen Namgyal Bhutia, popularly known as UNB, within 24 hours of registration of the case, a senior police officer said on Wednesday.
A Special Investigation Team (SIT) comprising DSP-rank officers has been constituted under the supervision of Lower Dibang Valley Superintendent of Police Ringu Ngupok to investigate the case.
Police teams have also launched searches to apprehend the remaining accused, while two vehicles allegedly used in the attack have been identified.
The arrested accused has been identified as 22-year-old Nabam Tapang, a resident of Bobia village under Leporiang circle in Papum Pare district. He was apprehended at Doimukh with the assistance of the officer-in-charge of Itanagar Police Station and his team, police said.
“We have identified all 13 accused in the case and arrested one accused,” Ngupok said, adding that the remaining 12 accused, also identified as residents of Papum Pare district, are yet to be apprehended.
The case relates to the alleged assault on UNB and his manager near Tiwari Gaon in Lower Dibang Valley on Monday evening. They were returning towards Roing after UNB performed at a festival in Anini, Dibang Valley district.
According to police and the rapper’s team, two vehicles allegedly followed their vehicle for nearly an hour before intercepting it on an isolated stretch around 39 km from Roing. A group of eight to 10 men allegedly damaged the vehicle with rods and assaulted UNB and his manager before fleeing after a truck approached the spot. UNB suffered injuries to his head and face, including swelling around one eye.
The incident was reported to Roing Police Station at around 7.50 pm. Police attributed the delay in reporting to poor mobile connectivity in the area. Following the complaint, check gates were alerted and personnel were asked to look out for vehicles matching the description provided by the victims. Police subsequently accompanied UNB and his team to the incident site and began collecting evidence.
The isolated location, absence of eyewitnesses and poor network connectivity had posed challenges to the investigation. Police personnel were deployed at different locations and technical analysis was undertaken as part of the probe.
Roing Police Station initially registered Case No. 48/2026 under relevant provisions of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS). During the investigation, Sections 126(2), 115(2), 351(2), 118(1), 61(2) and 3(5) of the BNS were invoked, police said.
Police are also examining the possible motive behind the assault, including a reported professional rivalry between UNB and Arunachal Pradesh-based rapper Don Kam. Ngupok said investigators were aware of the rivalry and comments circulating on social media and were examining that angle. There has been no police finding establishing the other rapper’s involvement in the assault.
Following the incident, Sikkim Chief Minister Prem Singh Tamang spoke to Arunachal Pradesh Chief Minister Pema Khandu on Tuesday and sought steps to ensure the safety of the Sikkimese artiste. Khandu assured him of prompt intervention and necessary action.
Police said further investigation is underway to establish the sequence of events and the motive behind the assault, while efforts continue to apprehend the remaining 12 accused.
