Forensic confirms suicide, rules out foul play in ex-Arunachal CM Pul’s death

Mangalore Today News Network

Guwahati, Oct 20, 2016: A forensic report into the cause of former Arunachal Pradesh chief minister Kalikho Pul’s death ten weeks ago has confirmed the initial suspicion that it was a case of suicide, police said on Thursday.

 

The report the state police received last week said there was no suspicion of foul play into the ex-CM’S death, state inspector general of police N Payeng told Hindustan Times.

The 47-year-old leader’s body was found hanging in his official residence in Itanagar on August 9 — less than a month after he had to quit as CM following a Supreme Court verdict.

The sudden death caused a stir in the northeastern state’s fluctuating politics and led hundreds of Pul supporters to take to the streets, alleging foul play and demanding a CBI inquiry.

Adding to the air of mystery was a handwritten note seen near the body. Titled ‘My Thoughts’, the 60-page document was sealed by the police.

While a case of unnatural death was registered, the state government ordered a magisterial inquiry to probe the exact cause of death.

Pul’s viscera were sent to the Guwahati-based forensic science laboratory, which gave its report to the Arunachal Pradesh government last week.

“Now that we have the forensic report, we will investigate the case further,” IG Payeng said. “We should be able file a closure report within a month.”

The former CM’S family, which was busy with Pul’s final rites till last week, isn’t happy with the slow pace of investigation.

“The process is taking time,” Pul’s third wife Dasanglu Pul told HT. “Since the final rites are over, we will be able to pursue the matter further and see that the investigation ends soon.”

Politics in Arunachal Pradesh took another major turn last month with chief minister Pema Khandu leaving the Congress along with 43 MLAs and joining the Peoples’ Party of Arunachal.


The Bharatiya Janata Party, which has 11 MLAs in the state, joined Khandu’s government earlier this month.

Election Commission announced this week that by-election to the Hayuliang (ST) assembly constituency, which got vacant after Pul’s death, will be held on November 19.

The PPA and the BJP are planning to announce a joint candidate for the seat. Pul’s third wife Dasanglu is a frontrunner.