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60-page note written by Pul may reveal reasons behind his suicide
GUWAHATI: A day after former Arunachal Pradesh chief minister Kalikho Pul was found dead in Itanagar, the city was abuzz with rumours on why the 47-year-old decided
GUWAHATI: A day after former Arunachal Pradesh chief minister Kalikho Pul was found dead in Itanagar, the city was abuzz with rumours on why the 47-year-old decided to end his life, with many pointing towards depression or financial strain.
Pul’s body was found hanging from a ceiling fan of his private room at the chief minister’s official residence, which he was yet to vacate, early on Tuesday morning.
The late leader’s supporters want a CBI probe into the death and also want details of a note written by Pul, which was found in the room where he allegedly committed suicide, to be made public.
State police chief S Nitianandam told HT that the note titled My Thoughts had details on various issues. He, however, refused to term it a “suicide note”.
The note and other evidence found in the room have been sealed and will be opened in front of a magistrate. Details of the postmortem conducted on Pul’s body are also awaited.
The note, which is said to be nearly 60 pages long, is expected to give some insight into what led the seasoned politician to take the extreme step less than a month after he was removed from office.
Media reports say Pul was suffering from depression after the SC ruling that ordered his removal and had even stopped interacting with family members.
Though he had returned to the Congress along with other rebel MLAs to support newly elected chief minister Pema Khandu, there were speculations that new political equations were already being formed in Itanagar.
Senior BJP leader Sudhanshu Mittal told journalists in Delhi that he had spoken to Pul a day earlier and the latter was to go to the national capital on Tuesday to file a review petition against the SC ruling.
There are also rumours that the former chief minister could have been suffering from financial problems. He had allegedly sold three of his houses recently and was to vacate the official residence on the day his body was found.
Pul’s body was flown on Wednesday mor ning from Itanagar to Anjaw, his home district, and his last rites will be performed at his native village Walla.
Meanwhile, mobile internet and messaging services remained affected in Arunachal Pradesh after the newly elected Pema Khandu government suspended 3G and SMS services temporarily to prevent spread of rumours. “The decision was taken to prevent spread of rumours on social media and other platforms about Pul’s death. It will remain in place till Thursday,” state police chief S Nitianandam told HT.
Meanwhile, additional companies of paramilitary forces were rushed to the state on Tuesday to help the state police maintain law and order after Pul’s supporters took to the streets.
