At least 121 people died in the Hathras stampede, hours after which an FIR was filed which has no mention of ‘Bhole Baba’ as an accused whose ‘satsang’ saw the mishap happen on Tuesday.
The family of the deceased has expressed their dissatisfaction over the missing name of the self-styled godman in the FIR while Chief Secretary Manoj Kumar Singh on Tuesday said that action will be taken against Bhole Baba.
The FIR blames the organisers of the religious congregation in Hathras for the deadliest stampede in India so far.
What Hathras stampede incident FIR mention?
According to the FIR, the ‘satsang’ was held by Suraj Pal, who also goes by the names Narayan Hari, Saakar Vishwa Hari Bhole Baba or simply ‘Bhole Baba’ near GT Road in the Phulrai Mugalgarhi village in the Hathras district of Uttar Pradesh.
A report by PTI quoted a senior official saying that in the FIR filed at the Sikandara Rao police station later Tuesday, only ‘Mukhya sevadar’ (main organiser) Devprakash Madhukar and other organisers have been named.
The FIR in the Hathras stampede incident has been registered under Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita 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), 238 (causing disappearance of evidence).
What led to the Hathras stampede?
According to the FIR in the Hathras stampede incident, after the sermon, Bhole Baba abruptly left the ‘satsang’ venue around 2 pm on Tuesday (June 2) after which his followers rushed to collect dust/soil stirred up by his car’s tires.
NDTV quoted a report by the subdivisional magistrate, which mentioned that the self-styled godman’s private security guards started pushing his followers and some people fell and were trampled.
Several others fled towards the open field and slipped, and others ran over them.
The FIR also said that the evidence was fabricated by throwing away the belongings, clothes and shoes of the injured persons at the scene of the incident.
Of the 121 people who died in the Hathras stampede, 38 were from Aligarh, 34 from Hathras, 28 from Etah and 21 from Agra.
Several lapses in Bhole Baba ‘satsang’ stampede
As per the FIR, organiser Madhukar had sought permission from the administration for around 80,000 people and accordingly, the administration made the traffic and safety arrangements. There were around 2.5 lakh people who congregated at the ‘satsang’ which led to heavy traffic on the road and halted vehicular movements.
The FIR further mentions that around 2 pm, the convoy of Bhole Baba moved out of the venue.
With the self-styled preacher leaving the venue, the uncontrolled crowd began rushing out from the venue, crushing people who were still sitting on the ground. The FIR said the organising committee members had to use sticks to attempt to forcibly stop the crowd from 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 added.
The FIR also mentions that the police and administrative officials present on the spot made every possible effort and rushed the injured people to the hospital with the available resources but no cooperation was given by the organisers.
As per the Uttar Pradesh police, there were no clear demarcations for entry and exit points at the ‘satsang’ venue. Also, the event had no emergency exit routes.
Also Read: Hathras Stampede: Plea in SC lists out THESE serious lapses at Bhole Baba ‘satsang’ that led to 121 deaths
The UP police said the event organisers did not arrange any medical facilities at Bhole Baba ‘satsang’.
There were no sufficient fans or coolers to help attendees beat the heat and also there was a lack of food and water arrangements.
Also, the police said there was no barricading on the route through which Bhole Baba’s cavalcade passed through.
Where is Hathras ‘satsang’ godman Bhole Baba?
As per the Uttar Pradesh Police, Bhole Baba continues to remain at large.
Deputy superintendent of police Sunil Kumar said Bhole Baba could not be found after the Uttar Pradesh cops carried out a search operation at Ram Kutir Charitable Trust in Mainpuri district in search of the self-styled godman.
“We did not find Baba ji inside the campus…He is not here…” Sunil Kumar said.
With inputs from agencies
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Hathras stampede incident FIR doesn’t mention Bhole Baba, family of 121 deceased fume
