Tarun Gogoi

Guwahati, Oct. 5: Chief minister Tarun Gogoi today ordered a high-level inquiry into the death of Tata Motors executive Nilotpal Lahon under mysterious circumstances last evening.

Gogoi tweeted today that he has asked chief secretary Naba Kumar Das to conduct an inquiry into the circumstances leading to the death of Lahon, 37, who was the husband of additional superintendent of police Leena Doley.

The chief secretary later said he has directed additional chief secretary Jitesh Khosla to inquire into the incident and submit a report within a month.

Lahon’s body was found with a bullet wound in his head inside a Tata Sumo parked on Nilachal hill last evening.

A police patrol party spotted the vehicle with the deceased holding a pistol in his hand and blood oozing from his forehead around 6.30pm yesterday.

Lahon was the son of former MLA from Lakhimpur, late Lakhon Lahon.

Gogoi has also sought a report on the status of the inquiry into the alleged harassment of Leena Doley by inspector-general of police (logistics) Mukesh Agarwal.

A few months back, Doley had lodged written complaints with the state home department, director-general of police and Assam State Commission for Women, alleging that Agarwal had made an “indecent proposal” through a text message.

An official source said the probe by the additional chief secretary would also enquire whether Lahon’s death has any connection with the alleged harassment of his wife.

“Though it appears that Lahon may have committed suicide, we will have to wait for the post-mortem report to confirm the cause of the death,” a city police official said.

The post-mortem was conducted at Gauhati Medical College and Hospital today.

An unnatural death case has been registered at Jalukbari police station.

The official confirmed the pistol found on Lahon was the service firearm of his wife. “Forensic, fingerprint and ballistic experts visited the site yesterday and collected evidence,” he said.

The police have also found an empty cartridge from the spot this morning.

The All Tai Ahom Students’ Union today demanded a CBI inquiry into Lahon’s death. Union leader Pranjalraj Konwar said only a CBI inquiry can ensure an impartial probe.

“The TV footage and other information we have received about the incident has made us think that it may not have been a suicide,” he said.

The family members of Lahon are also suspecting that he could have been murdered. They pointed out that his body was found in a sitting position in the driver’s seat but if he had shot himself from point-blank range, then his body should have slumped on the seat.

According to them, the way the pistol was found in his hand also raised suspicion that it could be a case of murder.