less than a month after stepping down as Arunachal Pradesh Chief Minister, Kalikho Pul was on Tuesday found hanging in the bedroom of his official residence at posh Niti Vihar in Itanagar.
As the news of suicide spread like wildfire, hundreds of Pul’s supporters throng streets blaming Chief Minister Pema Khandu-led Government for pushing Pul to take the extreme step. They demanded a CBI probe into the “suspected death” of Pul.
The protesters later gatecrashed into the official residence of Deputy Chief Minister Chowna Mein and vandalised his residence and several vehicles parked there. Additional companies of paramilitary forces were deployed to control the law and order situation.
“Pul was found hanging from a ceiling fan of his bedroom inside the official residence. One of the servants first spotted the body and informed police. Preliminary investigation indicated it to be a suicide and there seems to be no foul play,” said DGP S Nithianandam.
He said that police have recovered a “long note” from near the room. “I will not call it a suicide note but it is a detailed writing on his thoughts,” the DGP said.
Although Pul stepped down last month after the Congress legislature Party (ClP) elected Pema Khandu as its leader, he was yet to vacate the official residence of the Chief Minister.
“Pul’s body has been sent for post-mortem. It will be taken to his native village in Anjaw tomorrow. The Government has declared three days of State mourning,” said Chief Secretary Shakuntala Gamlin. The Government will ensure free and fair investigation into the case, said Gamlin.
Pul, who represented the Hyuliang constituency, was very popular for some unique steps he had taken as the CM. Pul was the first Arunchal CM who used to hold “Janata Darbar” on Saturdays.
Pul had also allowed his official chopper to carry seriously ill people from remote areas of the State to Itanagar and other places in the country whenever possible.