Patna: Taking a leaf out of Chile which recently conducted a probe to ascertain the reason behind the death of Nobel Prize-winning poet Pablo Neruda, a Bihar lawmaker on Tuesday sought an investigation into the death of noted writer from the state Phanishwar Nath Renu. 

Renu, famous for his writings in Hindi on issues concerning rural Bihar, died on April 11, 1977 at Patna Medical College and Hospital after undergoing a surgery.

JDU MLC Ram Vachan Rai, who retired from Patna University as a Hindi teacher, made the probe demand through a call attention motion in the Legislative Council on Tuesday.

Rai mentioned that Renu had been operated upon at PMCH on March 24, 1977 and didn't regain consciousness after the surgery.

"I was present with the Hindi laureate at that time and he was unconscious for 18 days after the operation before he breathed his last," Rai told The Telegraph.

He said doctors treating Renu never came up with any specific reason behind the writer's death.

The JDU MLC admitted he was inspired by Chile where a team of experts recently concluded that there was no concrete evidence that Neruda had been poisoned and not died due to cancer.

The left-wing poet died in 1973 while undergoing treatment for prostate cancer, but many in Chile suspected that he had been murdered.

Rai said state health minister Mangal Pandey told him that efforts would be made to dig out records to find out the reason behind Renu's death.

"When 44-year-old records can be dug out in Chile, why can't we find out 40-year-old records?" Rai asked.

He maintained that pinpointing the reason for Renu's death would be a big boon for researchers who are working on his life and works.