Gangtok: Sikkimese rapper Ugen Namgyal Bhutia, popularly known as UNB, has accused the investigating officer (IO) handling a counter-FIR against him in Arunachal Pradesh of harassment, non-cooperation and attempting to interfere with evidence.
He has sought a change of investigating officer, alleging that the September 21 attack on him and his associates is being sidelined.
Addressing the media alongside his lawyer, Avinav Jha, UNB said the counter-FIR was registered on September 29 following a complaint by the wife of Arunachal Pradesh-based rapper Don Kam over a diss track he released in response to a song by the latter.
UNB said his track, released in April 2025, was a response to derogatory remarks and alleged racial slurs targeting the Nepali community, including references questioning the community’s Indian identity.
He said he had initially ignored the remarks but decided to respond after receiving messages from people urging him to speak out against the alleged community-targeted abuse.
“My song did not target his community or even take his name. But when he started targeting the Nepali community, I felt I had to respond,” UNB said.
He alleged that the counter-FIR was being used to divert attention from the September 21 attack near Roing, where he and his associates were allegedly assaulted while returning from the Anini Winter Festival.
Describing the incident as an attempt to murder, UNB said four people were in custody, while others had secured bail. He questioned the pace of the investigation and the examination of phone records.
Regarding the counter-FIR, UNB said he received notices on October 13 and 23 and subsequently secured anticipatory bail for one month. Asked to appear before the investigating officer on November 1, he confirmed his travel plans on October 28 and left Sikkim on October 31, also requesting security arrangements.
However, upon reaching the police station in Itanagar on November 1, the group was informed that the investigating officer was unwell and unable to record his statement.
UNB said another notice was subsequently issued, directing him to appear on November 5, leaving him only four days to arrange another trip.
“We spent more than Rs 70,000 travelling from Sikkim because we wanted to cooperate. When we reached, we were told the IO was sick. They could have informed us earlier. Repeated travel is financially difficult for us,” he said.
His lawyer, Jha, further alleged that the investigating officer had asked UNB to delete a video connected with the controversy, raising concerns over possible interference with evidence.
“If the police believe an offence has been committed, they should investigate and proceed according to law. But asking someone to delete material that could constitute evidence raises serious questions about the impartiality of the investigation,” Jha said.
He said they had lodged complaints with the Superintendent of Police and human rights authorities, seeking a change of investigating officer.
Jha also alleged that despite being informed that UNB would be unable to appear on November 5, the investigating officer had warned that failure to comply could lead to his arrest.
He clarified that their objection was not to the investigation of the counter-FIR but to what they described as a lack of cooperation and unequal treatment.
Jha added that Sikkim Police had been in contact with the group and suggested coordination with their Arunachal Pradesh counterparts over security concerns.
“We have no intention of conducting a media trial. We want an unbiased investigation into both cases. The attack on September 21 should not be overshadowed by a counter-FIR over a song,” Jha said.
UNB reiterated that he had remained in contact with the investigating officer and communicated his inability to travel again on November 5. He maintained that his priority was to ensure that those responsible for the September 21 attack were identified.
The allegations against the investigating officer could not be independently verified. A response from the Arunachal Pradesh Police was not available at the time of publication.
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