NIA takes over ex-Arunachal MLA Yumsen Matey’s murder case

Reported by Marina Dai | Copy edited by Lipika Roy

The National Investigation Agency (NIA) has taken over the murder case of Yumsen Matey, former MLA of 56th Khonsa West Constituency of Tirap District, Arunachal Pradesh, and has already started the investigation into the case, informed Arunachal Home Minister Bamang Felix today.

Speaking exclusively to Northeast Live, Home Minister Bamang Felix said, “The NIA team is already on the ground. It will look into the case first, taking into account the police’s report on it, and then conduct its own inquiry.”

He said that the state government has transferred the case to NIA to ensure a meticulous and thorough investigation. This is in response to the police department’s request, as they have stated that this is an act of terrorism and that the perpetrator must have crossed the international border to the neighboring country.

Felix said that he also raised the matter in the 13th session of the Seventh Legislative Assembly of Arunachal Pradesh which began today and said that it was not just an attack on Matey, nor the people of Tirap, but an attack on the civilised society of the state and on every peace loving resident of the state. He said that the government is taking all steps to ensure there is no recurrence.

The former Khonsa West MLA Yumsen Matey was shot dead by unknown assailants at Raho village under Lazu circle of Tirap district, near the Indo-Myanmar border, on December 16, 2023.

Late Matey, a politician from Lazu village in Tirap district and the first graduate from the Ollo community, served as a Member of the Arunachal Pradesh Legislative Assembly from Khonsa West seat.

Matey debuted as an MLA on a Congress ticket in 2009. After losing the 2014 election, he joined the BJP in 2015.

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