A tragic stampede at a religious event in Hathras, Uttar Pradesh, on Tuesday evening claimed the lives of 121 people, sparking outrage and demanding answers from government bodies and officials. Questions are being raised about the permissions granted for such a large gathering and the apparent lack of crowd safety measures, such as designated entry and exit points.
Police have filed a case against Suraj Pal Singh, a close aide of the self-styled godman Narayan Saakar Hari, also known as Bhole Baba, who headed the prayer meet. However, the case does not mention Hari, who remains at large.
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When asked if Hari will be arrested, State Police Chief Prashant Kumar was non-committal, stating, “Action will be taken based on facts arising during the investigation.” Despite assurances from Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath and Prime Minister Narendra Modi highlighting the stampede in Parliament, no arrests have been made so far.
Chief Minister Adityanath has accused the event organisers of attempting to “cover up the incident,” emphasising the severity of the situation.
The aide and event organisers face charges of culpable homicide not amounting to murder and wrongful restraint, the latter applied in cases where the accused “voluntarily obstructs any person so as to prevent that person from proceeding in any direction which that person has a right to proceed.”
Over two dozen individuals remain hospitalized due to injuries sustained in the Hathras stampede.
Organizers Under Scrutiny
Organizers reportedly informed Hathras police that they expected a crowd of around 80,000. However, the actual attendance exceeded two lakh people. Police believe the organizers deliberately downplayed the expected number of attendees to face fewer restrictions and avoid additional crowd safety measures, which were ultimately lacking.
A significant question arises about who granted permission for the public meeting and why only 70 police personnel were deployed, resulting in an insufficient ratio of one cop per 1,150 attendees.
The lack of sufficient police personnel likely contributed to the chaos that ensued after the meeting ended. The crowd, rushing to the exits and to collect the mud Hari had walked on, caused a massive rush in a confined area. According to the police complaint, the organizing committee’s attempt to stop the crowd with sticks further exacerbated the situation, leading to people being crushed.
In addition to the absence of ambulances or medical stations, as required by law, emergency exits and evacuation routes were not clearly marked, contributing to the chaos.
A History of Deception
This is not the first time a prayer meet organized by Hari has misled authorities about expected attendance. In May 2022, during the COVID-19 pandemic, he sought permission for a rally for 50 people in Farrukhabad district but hosted over 50,000 attendees.
Police have also accused the organizers of failing to manage pedestrian and vehicular traffic at the venue and of destroying or hiding evidence after the stampede. There were no ventilation systems in the tents that housed Hari’s followers, adding to the safety hazards.
Bhole Baba’s Evasion Raises Concerns
The absence of Bhole Baba’s name in the police case has raised questions about his accountability. Sources suggest that he is hiding at his ashram in UP’s Mainpuri, approximately 100 km from the stampede site, with many of his followers gathering there.
Criticism has also been directed at Bhole Baba’s private security guards, who allegedly obstructed people trying to escape to allow the godman’s car to drive away.
Government and Opposition Responses
Chief Minister Adityanath has ordered a high-level committee to investigate the tragedy and announced compensation of Rs 2 lakh for the families of those killed and Rs 50,000 for the injured. “Our government will get to the bottom of this incident and give appropriate punishment to the conspirators and those responsible. The state is investigating… We will see if it is an accident or a conspiracy,” he stated.
Prime Minister Modi expressed condolences and hoped for the speedy recovery of the injured during a speech in Parliament, where he briefly interrupted his address to acknowledge the tragedy.
The opposition has launched a fierce attack on the ruling BJP, with Samajwadi Party leader Akhilesh Yadav accusing the BJP of failing to protect UP citizens and calling for a thorough probe into the incident.
Who Is Bhole Baba
Born in Bahadur Nagari village in UP’s Etah district, Bhole Baba’s original name is Suraj Pal. He was a Head Constable in the state police force before leaving his job in 1999 and adopting the name Narayan Saakar Hari. He claims to have worked for the Intelligence Bureau and turned to spirituality during his tenure there.
