Days After Hathras Tragedy, An On-Camera Statement From ‘Bhole Baba’
06.07.2024: In the wake of the tragic stampede at a ‘satsang’ in Uttar Pradesh’s Hathras, which resulted in the death of 121 people, Bhole Baba, a former constable turned self-styled godman, has expressed his deep sorrow over the incident.
In a video statement, Bhole Baba, also known as Narayan Sakar Hari, said, “I am deeply saddened after the incident. May God give us the strength to bear this pain. Please keep faith in the government and the administration. I believe that those responsible for the chaos will be held accountable. Through my lawyer AP Singh, I have requested the committee members to support the bereaved families and the injured throughout their lives.”
The stampede occurred during a ‘satsang’ attended by approximately 2.5 lakh devotees, far exceeding the 80,000-person limit set by authorities. The chaos began when attendees started collecting dust from the ground where Bhole Baba’s car had passed, causing a panic that led to men, women, and children falling over each other.
Bhole Baba had been elusive since the incident, but his lawyer AP Singh assured that he would cooperate with the investigation. Singh stated, “We have district-wise lists of the victims, and Narayan Sakar Hari’s trust will take care of the education, health, and wedding expenses of the families of those who died in the stampede.”
Main Accused Arrested
Devprakash Madhukar, the ‘mukhya sevadar’ of the ‘satsang’, has been arrested in Delhi. With Madhukar’s arrest, the total number of arrests in the case now stands at seven. Singh, who also represents Madhukar, claimed that his client had surrendered voluntarily. “We surrendered Devprakash Madhukar, the main organizer named in the FIR, after notifying the police, SIT, and STF in Delhi since he was undergoing treatment,” Singh said in a video message.
An FIR was registered against Madhukar by UP Police in Hathras, making him the prime accused in connection with the stampede. The police had announced a reward of ₹1 lakh for information leading to his arrest. Six others, including two women volunteers from the organizing committee, have also been arrested.
Investigation and Government Response
UP Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath was briefed on the initial Special Investigation Team (SIT) report on the stampede. The confidential report, submitted by Additional Director General (ADG) of Police, Agra Zone, Anupam Kulshrestha, includes testimonies from key officials such as Hathras District Magistrate Ashish Kumar and Superintendent of Police Nipun Aggarwal. The FIR was registered under various sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS).
The three-member SIT has recorded statements from 90 individuals so far. Additionally, the state government has established a three-member judicial commission headed by a retired high court judge to further investigate the incident.