Swami Nigamanand's kin threatens to fast if body not given for last rites

The family of Swami Nigamanand today threatened to go on an indefinite fast if the seer's body is not handed over to them for the last rites.

Swami Nigamanand's father Subhash Chandra Jha and other family members reached the ashram at Haridwar and claimed his body saying they wanted to perform his last rites at his native place in Darbhanga district of Bihar, superintendent of police (city) KL Shah said.

However, their request has been turned down by the Sadhus of the ashram who said that Swami was a sadhu and so he will be given 'Bhu samadhi' in the ashram itself, Shah added.

The administration is taking legal opinion on the issue following which any decision in this regard would be taken, Shah said.

Meanwhile, Nigamanand's family has threatened to sit on an indefinite fast outside the ashram if their son's body was not handed over to him.

Seer of Haridwar-based Matri Sadan Ashram, Swami Nigamanand, who was on fast for nearly four months demanding immediate stopping of quarrying in Ganga and shifting of Himalaya stone crusher from Kumbh mela area, died in a hospital near here on June 13.