A Special Investigation Team (SIT) probing the stampede in Hathras has recorded 119 statements and submitted a report on July 9 stating that the committee that organised the ‘Satsang’ was responsible for inviting more people than permitted.
According to sources, the report indicated that the committee responsible for organising the religious event, ‘Satsang,’ was accountable for the stampede incident. The committee invited more people than the permitted number, failed to make adequate arrangements, and the officials had not inspected the site despite granting permission.
Statements from 119 people, including family members of the deceased and injured devotees, were recorded in the nearly 300-page report.
The SIT also recorded statements from DM Hathras, Ashish Kumar, SP Nipun Agarwal, SDM, and CO Sikandrarao, who gave permission for the Satsang, as well as police personnel on duty for the Satsang that took place on July 2.
ADG Agra Zone Anupam Kulshreshtha and Aligarh Commissioner Chaitra V were present. The report has been submitted to the government.
Earlier on Monday, an eyewitness to the incident claimed that the attempt by a large number of devotees to collect “Baba’s Charan Dhul” (soil from the feet of the godman) led to the stampede.
Sudhir Pratap Singh from Mughalgarhi village said, “The incident happened after ‘Baba’ announced that devotees should take soil from around his feet. The devotees rushed to collect the soil in a hurry but started falling over and piling up.”
“Baba’s convoy left the spot amid the stampede. Only locals and the administration helped the devotees who were present there,” Singh said.
The Uttar Pradesh Judicial Commission team recorded statements from several eyewitnesses in the Hathras stampede case.
Meanwhile, the godman’s advocate, AP Singh, claimed that the mishap was caused by unidentified men who sprayed poison during the event. Singh asserted that the group of conspirators fled the venue after causing the stampede. “The stampede incident at the Satsang was not an accident but a conspiracy,” the lawyer said.
The incident took place at a religious ‘Satsang’ event of self-styled godman Suraj Pal, alias ‘Bhole Baba,’ in Fulari village, Uttar Pradesh’s Hathras, on July 2.
Devprakash Madhukar, the main accused in the Hathras stampede the incident was sent to 14 days of judicial custody after being produced before the Chief Judicial Magistrate Court on Saturday.
The court inquired if he had written permission for the event and from whom it was obtained. Madhukar replied that he received permission from the SDM for a gathering of 80,000 people. When asked if the event was publicised, Madhukar denied doing so.
Madhukar had been absconding, and a reward of Rs 1 lakh was announced for information leading to his arrest. He was finally apprehended on July 5 in the national capital. Additionally, two other accused, Ramprakash Shakya and Sanju Yadav, were also arrested, according to the police.
Earlier on July 6, ‘Bhole Baba’ said in a video statement that “those who created the chaos will not be spared.”
The self-styled godman Suraj Pal, who also goes by the name Narayan Sakar Hari, expressed his grief and condoled the deaths caused by the tragedy.
(with inputs from ANI)
