Aftermath of Kalikho Pul's suicide: Data services suspended in tense Itanagar

GUWAHATI: Former Arunachal Pradesh chief minister Kalikho Pul had been slated to visit New Delhi and met BJP leader Sudhanshu Mittal a day ahead of his suicide.

However, a restless Pul asked his driver to turn back on the drive from Itanagar to Guwahati on Monday. Mittal confirmed to ET that Pul was slated to meet him, though he did not turn up.

“Pul was a great friend of mine,” said Mittal. Meanwhile, tension prevailed in Arunachal Pradesh on Wednesday, with the Congress government suspending SMS, GPRS, 3G and 4G data services in Itanagar as a precautionary measure after instances of vandalism by Pul’s supporters.

An order by principal secretary (home) Satyagopal noted the likelihood of communal tension and clashes, according to intelligence inputs. Pul’s mortal remains were taken to his native village Hawai in the remote Anjaw district, bordering China, for the last rites.

A holiday has been declared on Thursday. Lok Sabha MP Ninong Ering, AICC secretary Jay Kumar along with senior party leaders and MLAs paid final respects to at Raj Bhavan.

Governor JP Rajkhowa said the state has lost a great visionary leader and statesman who worked selflessly and relentlessly for all round development and welfare of the state. “In a spell of about five months, Pul earned the distinction of being the most popular and people-friendly chief minister.”