People wait with flowers for Kanu Sanyal’s body to arrive at Hatighisa on Wednesday; (above) A CPI (ML) flag at half-mast at Sanyal’s house. Pictures by Kundan Yolmo

Naxalbari, March 24: The body of Kanu Sanyal was cremated on the banks of the Mahananda here at 6pm today even as the state leaders of the CPI (ML) refused to accept the police version that their all-India general secretary had committed suicide.

Sanyal, one of the co-founders of the Naxalite movement in 1967, was found hanging from the wooden beam of his mud hovel in Hatighisa village in Naxalbari, about 20km from Siliguri, yesterday evening. The 78-year-old Sanyal had suffered a stroke in 2008 and had been depressed, neighbours and party colleagues said after his death.

However, Subrata Basu, the state general secretary of the party, who reached here from Calcutta this morning with 18 other party leaders, said: “He was a man of steel and I know him for the past 30 years. The central committee of our party does not endorse that he committed suicide and feels that it is necessary to probe into it. It has been decided that the party will look into the issue.”

“We are not ready to buy the theory that he took his own life but are keeping our assumptions or apprehensions in abeyance. Once we get over with his last rites, the central committee will sit and discuss the matter. Initially, the party will take up the probe and if necessary, we can approach the police as well,” he added.

Basu also denied that Sanyal was suffering from depression. “I met him only a week ago and he was fine. In February, we held the central committee meeting at his home. We were also planning a meeting of the provincial state committee next month at Hatighisa, he was in no way depressed,” Basu said.

At Hatighisa, hundreds of people, tea workers, schoolchildren and leaders of different political parties, assembled in front of the hut where Sanyal had lived. Around 12.30pm his body was brought in a mortuary van, draped in red flag. No sooner had the stretcher been pulled out, hundreds pushed and jostled to touch and see Sanyal.

“He used to keep regular contacts with us as well as other family members,” Prabir, his brother and a resident of Babupara, said. “I had been here early this month and had never imagined that he would depart in such a manner. Our family members are proud of him.”

Upen Santhal, the son of CPI (ML)’s Jangal Santhal who was among those who led the 1967 uprising, reminisced his days with the leader. “I would curiously watch my father and Kanubabu discussing at length on their struggle. As I was too young in those days, I was not allowed to listen or take part in party’s activities,” he said.

The body was brought out of the hutment around 2.30pm. From there, a crowd of more than 400 supporters went till the Naxalbari bus stand. Shops in Hatighisa and some parts of Naxalbari closed as a mark of respect to the leader. From there, it headed for Siliguri where it was kept at Mitra Sammilani for the people to show respect. Finally, around 5pm it was taken to the Kiranchandra crematorium.