Lagatar24 Desk
Kasganj: Self-proclaimed religious preacher Suraj Pal, known as ‘Bhole Baba’, made his first public appearance since the Hathras stampede that claimed 121 lives on July 2nd. Expressing sadness over the incident, he reflected philosophically, stating, “Whoever has come has to go one day or the other.”
Addressing allegations of a conspiracy surrounding the stampede, despite not being named in the FIR, Bhole Baba emphasized his faith in the ongoing investigations. He cited inputs from his lawyer Dr. AP Singh and eyewitnesses regarding a suspected poisonous spray that may have triggered the tragic incident.
“We have faith in the SIT and judicial commission that the truth will come out,” Bhole Baba affirmed during his statement to ANI, while being in his birthplace of Bahadur Nagar, Kasganj.
The preacher’s lawyer, AP Singh, had earlier alleged the presence of individuals carrying cans of a poisonous substance during the ‘satsang’, based on witness accounts and post-mortem reports indicating asphyxiation as the cause of death for many victims.
Meanwhile, authorities have taken action against several individuals linked to the ‘satsang’ event. Eleven arrests have been made, including that of Devprakash Madhukar, the main organiser and fundraiser. The Uttar Pradesh government’s SIT held the organisers responsible for the stampede, leading to suspensions of local officials involved in granting permissions under questionable circumstances.
The SIT’s findings pointed to lapses in crowd management and alleged misconduct by the organising committee towards law enforcement during the event. These revelations have prompted a separate investigation led by a judicial commission chaired by retired Allahabad High Court judge Brijesh Kumar Shrivastava and retired IPS Hemant Rao.
As investigations continue, the Hathras stampede remains a focal point of scrutiny and legal proceedings, with public interest and scrutiny intensifying around Bhole Baba’s involvement and the circumstances leading to the tragic loss of lives.
