Self-styled godman 'Bhole Baba' expresses his sorrow after the Hathras stampede that claimed 121 lives, and pledges support for the victims' families.
In Short:
- Bhole Baba expresses sorrow over Hathras tragedy
- 121 people died in the stampede at his 'satsang'
- Bhole Baba promises support for affected families
- Main organizer arrested, others detained
- UP Chief Minister briefed on initial investigation report
In a tragic incident earlier this week, 121 people lost their lives in a stampede at a 'satsang' organized by 'Bhole Baba' in Uttar Pradesh's Hathras. The self-styled godman, a former constable, expressed deep sorrow over the incident in a video statement.
#WATCH | Hathras Stampede Accident | Mainpuri, UP: In a video statement, Surajpal also known as 'Bhole Baba' says, "... I am deeply saddened after the incident of July 2. May God give us the strength to bear this pain. Please keep faith in the government and the administration. I… pic.twitter.com/7HSrK2WNEM
— ANI (@ANI) July 6, 2024
"May God give us the strength to bear this pain. Please keep faith in the government and the administration. I believe that those responsible for the chaos will be held accountable. Through my lawyer, AP Singh, I have urged the committee members to stand by the bereaved families and the injured, offering them support throughout their lives," said 'Bhole Baba'.
The 'satsang' saw an overwhelming turnout of around 2.5 lakh devotees, far exceeding the authorized limit of 80,000 people. The stampede reportedly began when attendees started collecting dust from the ground where Bhole Baba's car had passed, leading to a chaotic and deadly scene.
Since the incident, Bhole Baba, also known as Narayan Sakar Hari, had been out of public view. His lawyer, AP Singh, assured that he would cooperate with the investigation. "We have detailed lists of the victims, and Narayan Sakar Hari's trust will cover the education, health, and wedding expenses of the families affected by the stampede," Mr. Singh stated.
Hathras Police have arrested Devprakash Madhukar, the 'mukhya sevadar' of the 'satsang', in Delhi. This brings the total number of arrests related to the case to seven. Mr. Singh, who also represents Madhukar, asserted that his client surrendered voluntarily. "Today, we surrendered Devprakash Madhukar, named the main organizer in the FIR in the Hathras case. He was undergoing medical treatment in Delhi, and once stable, he joined the probe as promised," Mr. Singh said.
An FIR filed by UP Police in Hathras names Madhukar as the prime suspect in the stampede, with a reward of ₹1 lakh announced for information leading to his arrest. Among the arrested are six others, including two female volunteers who were part of the organizing committee.
UP Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath was briefed on the initial Special Investigation Team (SIT) report regarding the stampede. The confidential report, submitted by Additional Director General of Police (Agra Zone) Anupam Kulshrestha, includes testimonies from key officials such as Hathras District Magistrate Ashish Kumar and Superintendent of Police Nipun Aggarwal. The FIR was filed under various sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS).
The three-member SIT has recorded statements from 90 individuals so far. Additionally, the state government has set up a three-member judicial commission led by a retired high court judge to further investigate the incident.