This Article is From Aug 20, 2011

Businessman, doctor booked for Nigamananda murder

Businessman, doctor booked for Nigamananda murder
Haridwar: Two months after the mysterious death of Swami Nigamananda who was leading a campaign against illegal quarrying in Ganga riverbed, the CBI has registered a case of murder and criminal conspiracy against a doctor and an owner of a stone crusher unit in Haridwar.

The agency which took over the case from Haridwar Police accused the then Chief Medical Officer (CMS) of the Haridwar District Hospital Dr P K Bhatnagar of conspiring with Ganesh Kumar of Himalayan stone crushers to kill the 34-year-old Swami.

Nigamananda was on an indefinite fast since February 19, 2011 protesting against illegal stone mining in the river bed of Ganga. He was admitted to the district hospital on April 27, 2011. He was transferred to Himalayan Institute of Medical Sciences in Dehra Dun where he died on June 13, 2011.

CBI sources alleged that as part of a conspiracy, Bhatnagar administered an injection to Swami who slipped into coma.

Swami Nigamananda's death had sparked uproar. Uttarakhand government recommended a CBI probe after political and religious leaders alleged foul play in the death of the Swami who had demanded shifting of stone crushers from Kumbh area.

The family and guru of Nigamananda had alleged that he was poisoned and suspected the role of local mining mafia in his death.
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