Zeenews Bureau
Haridwar: Swami Nigamanand, who died after fasting for about four months protesting illegal quarrying and mining near the Ganges, was on Thursday buried at his ashram in Haridwar after a second autopsy.
Earlier, a team of doctors had reached the burial spot to collect viscera samples of the deceased Sadhu.
Visit by the doctors’ team, headed by the Chief Medical Officer of Uttarakhand, added fuel to the speculation of foul play in the Swami’s death.
According to information available to Zee News, the doctors at the Ashram premises collected two samples of the viscera of Nigamanand. One of the samples was to be handed over to the Ashram, whereas the second sample was to be sent for tests.
Nigamanand was buried after the medical investigation.
Haridwar District Magistrate RC Meenakshi Sundaram confirmed this by saying “higher authorities had ordered” a second medical investigation after the furore over the reason behind the Swami’s death.
"Swami Nigamanand has been given `bhu samadhi` as per the traditions of Matri Sadan."
Union Minister of State for Agriculture Harish Rawat, Congress MLA Kishor Upadhyay, state Urban Development Minister Madan Kaushik and heads of several religious ashrams were among those present.
Earlier, family members of Nigamanand, who reached the ashram, sought custody of the body for the last rites and threatened to undertake an indefinite hunger strike but were turned down by the ashram authorities, prompting the district administration to intervene.
Earlier on Wednesday, yielding to pressure, Uttarakhand government had recommended a CBI inquiry into the death of Swami Nigamanand, amid allegations that he was poisoned.
Nigamanand, who died in a hospital here on June 13, was on fast since February 19 demanding immediate halt to illegal quarrying in the Ganges.
The state government agreed for CBI inquiry after pressure mounted it from various quarters for a thorough probe. Swami Nigamanand`s family members, Uttarakhand Governor Margaret Alva, main opposition Congress besides sadhus of Matri Sadan ashram have been demanding to know the truth behind his death.
The government had earlier asked the CB-CID to probe the seer`s death, but Congress rejected it alleging the state government was working under pressure from the quarrying mafia.
