Netaji disappearance: Kin approach Modi for probe

Family members of Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose have approached Prime Minister Narendra Modi seeking an SIT to probe the "disappearance mystery" of the nationalist leader.

Subhash Chandra Bose was declared killed in an air crash over Taipei, Chinese Taipei (formerly Formosa) Aug 18, 1945. But, many people doubted his death and though numerous commissions were set up, nothing could be found about his whereabouts.

The Open Platform for Netaji comprising a host of descendants of the nationalist leader and researchers who have been steadfastly campaigning for declassification of secret Netaji files, Thursday wrote to the Prime Minister's Office (PMO), also seeking rectification of "distorted written history" concerning Bose and the freedom movement.

"The prime minister has asked for a proposal from us regarding what the central government can do as regards our declassification campaign. Accordingly, we now have sent out a detailed proposal which includes formation of an SIT (Special Investigation Team) to probe his disappearance," Platform convener and Netaji grandnephew Chandra Kumar Bose Friday told IANS.

He said the SIT to be headed by a leading Supreme Court judge should have historians, researchers and officials from relevant central departments and agencies, including the Intelligence Bureau, Central Bureau of Intelligence and the External Affairs Ministry.

"The SIT will scrutinise all the declassified documents and interview, cross-examine witnesses and people concerned," he said.

"The existing distortions in the written history of the Indian freedom struggle should be rectified. A fuller and accurate history of India's freedom struggle, the role of revolutionaries like Netaji, Rashbehari Bose, Bhagat Singh, Jatin Das among others should be well documented in school and college text books," he added.

The Platform has also asked for setting up of a central research centre with the objective of conducting research on Netaji and the freedom movement of India, as well as renaming the National Defence Academy after Netaji.