Arunachal Pradesh: Violence erupts as former CM Kalikho Pul commits suicide

Guwahati: In what provoked a spontaneous angry violent protest in Itanagar on Tuesday, former Arunachal Pradesh chief minister Kalikho Pul was found hanging at chief minister’s residence where he has been living. The Director General of Police S. Nithianandam said that the body was found hanging from ceiling fan of his bedroom.

“His servant saw it at about 9 am and reported to police,” said the DGP adding that he may have committed suicide on Monday night itself. He also pointed out that preliminary investigation of police did not indicate any foul play.

"The body is sent it for post-mortem,” he said. Though, security agencies were tight-lipped, sources said that a suicide note written by Mr Pul was also recovered from his house.

Meanwhile, hundreds of his sympathizers gathered outside his residence and shouted slogan against Arunachal chief minister Pema Khandu.

A large number of people, who came out soon after the news spread, forcibly entered official bungalow of deputy chief minister Chowna Mein and ransacked. Supporters have even resorted to violence on the streets of Itanagar.

Though, most of people who was in touch with Mr Pul ruled out the possibility of any foul play in his demise, his associates admitted that Mr Pul was in stress following the overnight dramatic turn of his followers who insisted him to go for a floor test but at end betrayed.

The state government has announced three-days mourning in respect of former chief minister Kalikho Pul who was found dead at his residence on Tuesday at Itanagar.