Former Arunachal Pradesh chief minister Kalikho Pul was found hanging from a ceiling fan at the chief minister’s official bungalow, the home that he was to vacate today itself.
Police suspect it to be a case of suicide but a note is yet to be found. However, the police is examining his diary.
Kalikho Pul served as the Chief Minister of the state for nearly five months, before being dislodged by the Supreme Court in a historic judgment last month. A promising 47-year-old leader was replaced by Pema Khandu at the Chief Minister’s office but he was yet to vacate the official residence.
Pul’s body was hanging from the ceiling fan of his bedroom, was first spotted by one of his three wives this morning.
Pul, who is survived by three wives and four children, had not met any outsider for the past seven days, his family claimed.
He has reportedly been depressed after he was ordered by the Supreme Court to step down after a brief stint.
The untimely demise of Pul, who had served as the chief minister from Feburary 19 till July 13 this year, shocked many and the state government announced a magisterial inquiry into the death.
Chief Minister Pema Khandu told reporters that the inquiry was ordered to investigate whether there was any "foul play".
The state government after a cabinet meeting, chaired by Chief Minister Pema Khandu, declared a three-day state mourning and decided to accord a state funeral to the deceased.
As news of the death of Pul, a Congress rebel, spread, scores of his supporters and well-wishers gheraoed Chief Minister Pema Khandu's bungalow in the Niti Bihar area and demanded a probe into the 'unnatural' death.
They told the media that they would not allow Pul's body to be taken out from his bungalow at E S S sector and insisted that he be cremated inside the premises.
The coffin, which was brought from outside, was damaged and set on fire by the crowd before the assembled media.
A section of the mob headed towards the official residence of Deputy CM Chowna Mein, less than 100 metres away, damaged the outer wall and at least 10 vehicles parked in the premises.
Kalikho Pul, who rebelled against chief minister Nabam Tuki in late 2015 along with a large section of party legislators, was sworn in as Chief Minister of Arunachal Pradesh with the support of 18 dissident Congress MLAs, two independents and 11 BJP legislators.
The BJP legislators gave him outside support in the 60-member Assembly.
Pul's appointment was preceded by days of turmoil which saw Nabam Tuki dismissed after 21 of the 47 Congress MLAs--including Pul-rebelled against him. This was followed by President's Rule imposed on January 26.
The Supreme Court last month had ruled the appointment as illegal and reinstated the Congress government.
