Nigamananda death probe handed to CBI

The CBI today took over the probe into the mysterious death of Swami Nigamananda, who died in Dehradun after fasting for nearly four months in protest against illegal mining on the Ganga riverbed.

The CBI on Wednesday took over the probe into the mysterious death of Swami Nigamananda, who died in Dehradun after fasting for nearly four months in protest against illegal mining on the Ganga riverbed.

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The Centre on Wednesday issued a notification handing over the probe to the agency, CBI sources said.

The Uttarakhand government had requested the Centre for a CBI probe after coming under strong pressure from local religious leaders, who alleged foul play in the death of the swami who had demanded shifting of stone crushers from the Kumbh area.

Religious leaders and the family of Nigamananda, who died on June 13 at a hospital in Dehradun, alleged that he was poisoned and suspected the role of local mining mafia in his death.