Hathras Stampede Tragedy: Over 120 dead, RSS, VHP and Bajrang Dal workers mobilise relief efforts

The aftermath of the Hathras tragedy saw immediate mobilisation by various organisations to provide relief to the affected families. The collective efforts of Vishva Hindu Parishad (VHP), Bajrang Dal, and other volunteer organisations continue to provide crucial support to the victims and their families being in the forefront.

Around 60 workers from these organisations have been tirelessly working in Hathras, Harigarh (Aligarh), and Etah districts, offering their services in relief and medical centres.

VHP Brij Prant has issued helpline numbers (8057903304 and 9412397850) for the victims’ families to seek assistance. These helplines are designed to coordinate with local government administration and hospitals to ensure the affected receive the necessary support. Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) Swayamsewaks and Seva Bharati Karyakartas have joined the relief efforts, providing food and other essential services to the victims and their families.

As many as 120 people lost their lives, and many others were injured in a stampede at a satsang camp in Shikandrarao, Hathras district, on July 2. The tragic event unfolded as a massive crowd of over 250,000 devotees gathered for a prayer meeting led by the religious leader Suraj Pal, also known as Bhole Baba. The venue, however, was only permitted to accommodate 80,000 people, leading to a chaotic and fatal rush.

The stampede occurred when Bhole Baba, a revered Dalit spiritual leader, left the stage after the prayer session. As he moved towards his car, devotees surged forward to touch his feet or the ground he had walked on, resulting in a deadly crush. Many suffocated to death, while others were trampled in the adjacent mud field.

The chaos erupted when Bhole Baba’s aides, known as ‘sevadars’, attempted to prevent the crowd from approaching him, resulting in a stampede where hundreds of people were trampled. The police and administrative officials tried to manage the situation and transport the injured to nearby hospitals, but the sheer number of attendees overwhelmed the available resources.

Following the incident, Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath announced a judicial probe into the stampede and stated that among those killed, six were from other states, including Haryana, Madhya Pradesh, and Rajasthan. A public interest litigation has also been filed in the Allahabad High Court, demanding a CBI inquiry into the tragedy.

An FIR has been registered against the Satsang organisers, accusing them of culpable homicide not amounting to murder, attempt to commit culpable homicide, wrongful restraint, disobedience to a public servant’s order, and causing disappearance of evidence under the new Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS). The FIR notes that the organisers did not cooperate with the police and administrative officials during the emergency response.

Narayan Saakar Hari, who has been at the centre of this tragedy, is a former head constable with the Local Intelligence Unit of the UP police. He left his police job in 1999, adopting the name Narayan Saakar Hari and claiming to have worked with the Intelligence Bureau. His journey towards spirituality began during his tenure at the Bureau, leading him to become a prominent spiritual leader with a substantial following.