Days after 121 people were killed due to a stampede at a religious gathering in Hathras, the lawyer representing Bhole Baba, the preacher claimed that the mishap occurred as a group of around 15-16 people sprayed poison during the event. He further claimed that these people soon fled the venue after triggering the cause for the stampede.
The people who were killed in the stampede were mostly women and also included children. President Droupadi Murmu and Prime Minister Narendra Modi expressed condolences over the tragedy and both the state and central government announced ex-gratia for the families of the victims as well as for the injured.
While claiming that the stampede was planned, the lawyer said according to PTI, “A heart-wrenching incident happened. 15-16 people were involved in the conspiracy. The permission was taken. The map was attached to the permission. Some unidentified vehicles were there at the spot of the stampede. 10-12 people sprayed poison. Witnesses had said the women were falling and many died due to breathlessness. They fled from the spot. The SIT and SP Hathras are investigating. The CCTV footage should be seized, so that those vehicles can be identified.”
Addressing a press conference in Delhi, the lawyer AP Singh also alleged a conspiracy, which he attributed to Bhole Baba’s “rising popularity”, behind the stampede.
“There were vehicles parked at the site to help the men escape. We have proof and we will submit it. This is the first time I am speaking about it,” he added. Singh claimed the witnesses who reached out to him requested anonymity. “We will demand security for them,” he said.
As per initial investigation reports, the organisers had reportedly got a permission for the event with a maximum turnout of 80,000. The number of people attending, however turned out to be over 2.5 lakh.
So far, nine people, including key accused Devprakash Madhukar, have been arrested in connection with the stampede.
What Exactly Happened?
A stampede during Bhole Baba’s ‘satsang’ in Hathras on Tuesday, July 2, resulted in a devastating loss of life, with about 121 people tragically killed and several others injured. The incident occurred during the culmination of the religious gathering at Phulrai village of Sikanda Rau police station area in Uttar Pradesh.
The stampede reportedly occurred when devotees rushed to seek blessings from Bhole Baba after his sermon concluded on Tuesday afternoon, leading to chaos and tragic consequences.
What ‘Bhole Baba’ Said After The Deadly Stampede?
The preacher Bhole Baba on Saturday issued his first statement saying he is “extremely pained” by the deadly incident on July 2, which claimed 121 lives. He said he is “with the victims” and has “full faith in the state authorities that culprits will not be spared”.
“We are distressed after the incident of July 2. May God give us the strength to overcome this sorrow. We should have faith in the government administration. Culprits will not be spared. We told through our lawyer that we stand with those who are going through this sorrow, with our body, money and mind,” he said.
Surajpal alias Narayan Sakar Hari alias Bhole Baba, through his lawyer, had agreed to cooperate with the state administration and police while seeking an investigation into the matter. This statement came days after he went incognito in the aftermath of the stampede that took place during one of his religious congregations.
Who is Bhole Baba?
Bhole Baba, also known as Narayan Sakar Hari, whose real name is Suraj Pal, is a former government employee turned spiritual leader with a significant following across UP and neighboring states. During his sermons, he claimed that he had previously worked in the Intelligence Bureau (IB) and also served in the Uttar Pradesh Police, asserting that he retired from service and then became a spiritual leader. He hails from Bahadur Nagari village in Patiyali tehsil of Etah.
He quit his government job 26 years ago and began delivering religious sermons in various villages and towns across Uttar Pradesh. He had initiated his sermons during his tenure and later resigned and established an ashram in Patiyali. Bhole Baba has millions of followers across the country, including Western Uttar Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Haryana, Rajasthan, and Delhi.
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