Police say Brit-Indian Labour MP Ashok Kumar's death 'not suspicious' - India News and Travel Times Provides India-centric and other News and Features

Middlesbrough South and East Cleveland police have described the death of Brit-Indian Labour MP Ashok Kumar as accidental and not at all suspicious. Kumar was found dead at his constituency home yesterday morning, reports The Times. A spokesman for Dr Kumar's parliamentary office said it was a "huge shock" and that they were not aware that the 53-year-old had underlying health issues. Local staff had called at his northeast home after the MP for Middlesbrough South and East Cleveland failed to attend a meeting at Westminster yesterday. He was found in his chair and pronounced dead at the scene by paramedics. The Speaker, John Bercow, said: "Ashok was a most assiduous Member, much respected by the House and by professional background a very fine chemical engineer." "I am sure members on all sides of the House will join me in mourning the loss of a colleague and extending our sympathy to the honourable member's family and friends," he added. Dr Kumar, who was born in India in 1956, had been MP for the northeast seat since 1997. He began his political career as a local councillor for Middlesbrough Borough Council and first entered parliament as MP for Langbaurgh after a 1991 by-election win. After losing the seat in the 1992 general election, he re-entered Parliament five years later as MP for Middlesbrough South and East Cleveland . The seat, which has a notional 8,096 majority over the Conservatives, will now be contested at the general election.