In the wake of the catastrophic stampede at a satsang event in Hathras, Uttar Pradesh, 122 people have been confirmed dead, and numerous others injured. The incident in Phulrai village on Tuesday has drawn significant attention and sparked widespread calls for justice and accountability.
Bhole Baba, the spiritual leader whose real name is Suraj Pal, stated Supreme Court advocate AP Singh. Baba claimed he had left the event before the tragedy unfolded and blamed anti-social elements for the chaos. He expressed intentions to take legal action against those responsible and wished for the recovery of the injured.
The disaster unfolded as thousands of devotees followed Baba’s caravan post-satsang, leading to a deadly stampede. Water cannons used for crowd control exacerbated the panic, causing people to fall and get crushed in the chaos. Eyewitnesses reported a harrowing scene with bodies strewn on the ground, injured individuals writhing in pain, and a dire lack of medical assistance.
Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath visited the site on Wednesday and described the incident as a conspiracy. He announced the formation of a Special Investigation Team (SIT) to probe the tragedy and vowed that those found guilty would face severe punishment. Additionally, a team of a retired high court judge and a senior retired police officer will conduct an independent investigation.
Meanwhile, a PIL has been filed in the Allahabad High Court demanding a CBI investigation into the accident. An FIR has been lodged against 22 individuals, including the main organizer, Dev Prakash Madhukar. Notably, Bhole Baba is not named in the FIR, and his whereabouts remain unknown after the event.
The aftermath of the stampede saw grieving families searching for their loved ones and dealing with the traumatic sight of lifeless bodies. One constable, Rajneesh, reportedly suffered a heart attack upon witnessing the scene and later died. Most victims were from Hathras, Badaun, and other western UP districts.
As the investigation unfolds, the community grapples with the enormity of the loss and the urgent need for answers and accountability. Bhole Baba, known for his spiritual influence in western UP, Rajasthan, and Haryana, has been a prominent figure for 25 years. This tragedy has cast a shadow over his following, leaving many questioning the events that led to such a devastating outcome.
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