15 August,2011 07:30 AM IST | | Mohit Sharma
Two days ahead of Hazare's protest fast in Delhi, CBI initiates probe into the case of Swami Nigamananda, who died in Dehradun in June after fasting for nearly four months, while fighting against illegal mining on Ganga river-bed
This August 16 isn't just the day to get out of your I-Day hangover. It's the day when Anna Hazare will once again sit on his fast against corruption, seeking to make his displeasure known about the 'toothless' Lokpal Bill draft that has been accepted by parliament.
Forgotten saint! Nigamananda was lying unconscious and neglected
in the same hospital in June where Baba Ramdev was receiving all
the 'attention'. file pic
Incidentally, yesterday Central Bureau of Investigation started probe into the case of the death of Swami Nigamananda - the seer, who had died on June 13 at a Dehradun Hospital after prolonged fasting. Sources say the government will try to avoid any incident of similar nature in the case of Anna Hazare or his followers. That is one of the primary reasons why the anti-corruption crusader has been issued a time limit of three days to carry out his fast. However, Anna has said he will not follow this diktat from the authorities and if necessary, his protest will go on.
Food for thought: Anna Hazare
Dying young
Nigamananda, 34, was agitating against illegal quarrying being carried out in the Ganga river-bed with the alleged connivance of officials and quarrying mafia. Sources in the CBI said that they have not registered an FIR in the case and have initiated a preliminary inquiry into the matter after allegations were made by his family members.
A spokesperson of the investigating agency said that Nigamananda's post-mortem report will be thoroughly scrutinised and studied by a team of sleuths from CBI, Dehradun."We will first look into the PM reports and other aspects of the allegations and then would proceed in registering an FIR into the matter," he said.u00a0
Action assured
If any discrepancies would be found action will be taken against the culprits, the sources said. CBI sources also said that the agency has taken up the investigations soon after issuance of formal notification by the Government of India. Family members of Swami Nigamananda had demanded on June 15 a thorough probe into the circumstances leading to his death. "They had alleged that the Uttarakhand government had shown insensitivity in handling his health which was the cause of his death and we will investigate the same," CBI sources said.
"Uttarakhand government's insensitivity can be gauged from the fact that it arranged the best medical facility for yoga guru Ramdev at the same hospital in Dehradun where Nigamananda died for lack of treatment," Nigamananda's father Subhash Chandra Jha had alleged. "There were also allegations that he died of poisoning which will also be scrutinised properly," CBI sources said.u00a0u00a0u00a0u00a0u00a0u00a0u00a0u00a0u00a0u00a0u00a0u00a0u00a0u00a0u00a0u00a0
The Uttarakhand government had earlier handed over the inquiry into the case to CB-CID. Swami Nigamananda, was on fast since February 19, demanding immediate stopping of illegal quarrying in Ganga and shifting of Himalaya Stone Crusher to elsewhere from Kumbh area. There were also allegations that while Nigamananda had been fasting for two months to save the Ganga, political and religious leaders converged at the hospital to meet Ramdev. But no one cared to visit the unconscious young saint.
