Bhole Baba, also known as Narayan Sakar Hari, is a self-proclaimed preacher who organised a religious gathering in Hathras. Tragically, more than 120 people lost their lives in a stampede during the event. Before embracing spirituality, he served as a constable in Uttar Pradesh and claims to have had a career with the Intelligence Bureau.
The Hathras district of Uttar Pradesh witnessed one of India’s deadliest stampedes, claiming over 120 lives, including women and children. The tragedy unfolded during a ‘satsang’ organised by a self-styled guru in Phulrai, Sikandararao. Narayan Sakar Vishwa Hari is likely to be arrested.
Controversial Journey of Bhole Baba: From Constable to Spiritual Leader
Hari, originally from Bahadur Nagari village in Kasganj district near Hathras, is a 58-year-old from a Dalit background. Formerly a constable with the Uttar Pradesh Police in Agra, he left the force in the 1990s and claims to have had previous experience with the Intelligence Bureau.
#WATCH | Uttar Pradesh: Visuals from the incident spot where a stampede took place yesterday, claiming the lives of 116 people in Hathras.
The incident happened during a Satsang conducted by 'Bhole Baba'. pic.twitter.com/7wfXYFRHIO
— ANI (@ANI) July 3, 2024
Adopting the name Bhole Baba, he conducts ‘Manav Mangal Milan Sadbhavna Samagam’ satsangs with his wife, Matashree, dressed in a distinctive white suit or kurta-pyjama. Hari asserts that all donations are used for devotees and professes a spiritual inclination from his days in the intelligence agency.
In May 2022, known for his substantial following in western Uttar Pradesh, Hari faced legal issues for exceeding gathering limits during a COVID-era satsang in Farrukhabad. Currently under scrutiny for the Hathras stampede, where authorities allege a massive attendance discrepancy, Hari is expected to face arrest, despite reports suggesting he may be evading authorities at his Mainpuri ashram.
FIR filed against satsang organisers
A First Information Report (FIR) has been registered against Devprakash Madhukar, referred to as ‘Mukhya Sewadar’ and other organisers of a prayer meeting congregation ‘Satsang’ organised in the Hathras district of Uttar Pradesh where a stampede took place.
The case has been registered under The FIR, under Sections 105 (culpable homicide not amounting to murder), 110 (attempt to commit culpable homicide), 126 (2) (wrongful restraint), 223 (Disobedience to order duly promulgated by the public servant), and 238 (causing disappearance of evidence) of the new criminal code Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS).
The main organiser Madhukar had sought permission from the administration for around 80,000 people and the administration made the traffic and safety arrangements accordingly.
However, around 2.5 lakh people gathered at the ‘Satsang’, causing heavy traffic on the road and halting the vehicular movements, the FIR read.
After the Satsang got over due to the uncontrollable crowd leaving the venue, those who were sitting on the ground were crushed. Organising committee members used sticks to attempt to forcibly stop the crowd running in the water and mud-filled fields, due to which the pressure of the crowd kept increasing and women, children, and men kept getting crushed, the FIR detailed.
Police and administrative officials present on the spot made every possible effort and sent the injured people to the hospital with the available resources but no cooperation was given by the organizers, the FIR said.
In Hathras, a forensic unit and a dog squad visited the stampede site. Teams of the Uttar Pradesh Provincial Armed Constabulary (PAC), National Disaster Response Force (NDRF), and State Disaster Response Force (SDRF) were also present.
#WATCH | Uttar Pradesh: Forensic experts along with dog squad collect evidence at the incident site in Hathras, where a stampede took place yesterday, claiming the lives of 116 people pic.twitter.com/a9u9t1bXDi
— ANI (@ANI) July 3, 2024
Shakuntala Devi, an eyewitness in the Hathras stampede incident, says, “There was a Satsang of Bhole Baba going on. Right after the Satsang finished, several people started coming out from there. A stampede took place as the road was uneven and people fell on each other…”
#WATCH | Shakuntala Devi, an eyewitness in the Hathras stampede incident, says "There was a Satsang of Bhole Baba going on. Right after the Satsang finished, several people started coming out from there. A stampede took place as the road was uneven and people fell on each… pic.twitter.com/1Aaa6OOvAm
— ANI (@ANI) July 2, 2024
District Magistrate (DM) Ashish Kumar reported that the district administration is actively investigating the matter, with ongoing efforts to recover and assist the injured.
Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath expressed condolences to the families of those killed in the stampede and instructed officials to reach the accident site and carry out relief measures. He announced an ex gratia compensation of Rs 2 lakh for the families of the deceased and Rs 50,000 each for the injured.
जनपद हाथरस की दुर्भाग्यपूर्ण दुर्घटना पर… pic.twitter.com/VOcNSmZkwW
— Yogi Adityanath (@myogiadityanath) July 2, 2024
Yogi Adityanath has directed district officials to ensure the injured are hospitalised promptly and to expedite relief efforts. In a post on X, his office stated that the Chief Minister has also ordered a thorough probe into the incident to determine the underlying causes and prevent such tragedies in the future.
Earlier, Prime Minister Narendra Modi expressed his condolences over the loss of lives in the stampede in Hathras and wished speedy recovery to the injured. PM Modi also spoke with Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath following the tragic incident.
उत्तर प्रदेश के हाथरस में हुए दुखद हादसे को लेकर मुख्यमंत्री योगी आदित्यनाथ जी से बात की। यूपी सरकार सभी पीड़ितों की हरसंभव सहायता में जुटी हुई है। मेरी संवेदनाएं उन लोगों के साथ हैं, जिन्होंने इसमें अपने प्रियजनों को खोया है। इसके साथ ही मैं सभी घायलों के जल्द से जल्द स्वस्थ…
— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) July 2, 2024
“The Uttar Pradesh Government is engaged in providing all possible help to the victims. My condolences to those who have lost their loved ones. I wish for the speedy recovery of the injured,” PM Modi said in a post on X.
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