Photo Courtesy: India Today Group
Itanagar: Arunachal Pradesh police arrested Nabam Tapang in Doimukh on September 23. He is the first suspect held for the assault on Sikkimese rapper UNB, known as Ugen Namgyal Bhutia. Investigators have now identified all 13 people linked to the attack. More arrests are coming soon.
The attack occurred on the evening of September 21. UNB and his team were driving from Anini to Roing after a concert. Two vehicles trailed them for miles before cutting them off on a lonely road 39 km from Roing. The mob used iron rods to smash the vehicle. They beat UNB and his manager. The attackers fled when a third vehicle neared the scene. UNB suffered facial and head injuries, including a swollen eye.
Police are looking into a potential rap rivalry as the motive. Sources suggest a conflict between UNB and Arunachal Pradesh-based rapper Don Kam. Lower Dibang Valley Superintendent of Police Ringu Ngupok stated, "The exact motive behind the attack has not been conclusively established, and the alleged rivalry remains part of the investigation."
Remote terrain and bad signal slowed the initial police response. Sikkim Chief Minister Prem Singh Tamang contacted Arunachal Chief Minister Pema Khandu to demand safety for Sikkimese citizens. Detectives are now mapping out individual roles for all 13 suspects to close the case.
Updated at 24th September 2026 at 5:51pm
The arrested suspect is 22-year-old Nabam Tapang from Bobia village in the Leporiang circle of Papum Pare district. Police nabbed him in Doimukh with help from Itanagar units. Investigators have confirmed that all 12 remaining suspects are also from Papum Pare. A special investigation team is now running the case, with officers adding new charges under the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita.
The ambush occurred near Tiwari Gaon. Police identified the vehicles involved earlier in the week, which gave them the break they needed to pin down the names of the entire group. Search teams are currently scouring the area to bring in the remaining dozen men.
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