ITANAGAR, Aug 9 - In a shocking incident, former Arunachal Pradesh Chief Minister Kalikho Pul has allegedly committed suicide at the official residence of the Chief Minister at Niti Vihar here today.
He was found hanging from a ceiling fan inside the Chief Minister�s bungalow, which he had yet to vacate as his own quarter was being renovated. He was 47 and is survived by three wives and seven children.
While confirming recovery of a diary and a suicide note from the scene, Chief Secretary Shakuntala Gamlin told the waiting journalists that all have been taken and it is with the magistrate, who will take them on record. Moreover, the Chief Minister has given the clear instructions that all the procedures might be followed. She further said that the State government has declared three-day State mourning besides deciding to accord a State funeral to the departed leader.
His body will be taken to his home district Anjaw tomorrow where the last rites will be performed.
As the news of Pul�s suicide spread like wildfire, hundreds of his supporters and well wishers flocked in front of the Chief Minister�s bungalow and shouted slogans against the present Chief Minister Pema Khandu.
The agitated crowd then destroyed a coffin brought for Pul before going berserk and destroying the government properties and resorting to stone-pelting in the presence of the �helpless� security forces personnel.
The protesters then overpowered the security forces guarding the Deputy Chief Minister Chowna Mein�s official residence and forcefully entered and vandalised it. Nearly a dozen government vehicles parked inside the compound were also damaged.
Same was the case with the Deputy Chief Minister�s underconstruction private residence in the locality and the Industries Minister Tapang Taloh�s residence, which were also vandalised.
The protesters demanded a CBI probe into Pul�s suicide to find out what propelled him to take the extreme step. They also demanded the resignation of Khandu.
Pul was unseated by former Chief Minister Nabam Tuki following the Supreme Court�s July 13 verdict that had ordered that status quo ante as prevailed on December 15, 2015 be restored in Arunachal Pradesh Assembly. The SC ruling had effectively restored the Nabam Tuki government.
However, Tuki had resigned on July 16 a few hours ahead of his scheduled floor test, paving the way for appointment of Pema Khandu as the leader of Congress Legislature Party (CLP) as well as the ninth Chief Minister of the State.
Pul, a Congress leader from Hayuliang assembly constituency in Anjaw district, had taken the State�s reigns on February 19 following lifting of the President�s Rule, unseating the then Congress Chief Minister Nabam Tuki.
Later, Pul and his supporters joined the People�s Party of Arunachal (PPA) to head the government, which had the outside support from the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and two Independent legislators.
After the Supreme Court reinstated the Tuki government, Pul and his supporters returned to the Congress and supported Khandu to become the Chief Minister.
Pul was widely admired for his compassionate approach towards the poor and needy people. He was known for high probity in public life and honest politics.
After taking over the State�s reigns, Pul had started holding �Janata Darbar� every Saturday meeting with the people from different parts of the State to share their pains.
Amid tension gripping Itanagar with Pul�s mortal remains inside the CM bungalow, the State Cabinet under the chairmanship of Khandu had earlier in the morning had an emergency meeting and announced a three-day state mourning.
Arunachal Governor Tathagata Roy and Chief Minister Pema Khandu condoled the demise of Kalikho Pul and expressed shock on the tragic death.
