Lagatar24 Desk
Hathras, Uttar Pradesh – The main cause of the deadly stampede at a ‘satsang’ in Hathras, Uttar Pradesh, has been identified as overcrowding, according to a report submitted by a Special Investigation Team (SIT) to the Yogi Adityanath government. The stampede, which claimed 121 lives, occurred during an event led by Narayan Sakar Hari, also known as ‘Bhole Baba’.
The SIT report, prepared by Additional Director General of Police (Agra) Anupam Kulshreshtha and Aligarh Divisional Commissioner Chaitra V, includes testimonies from 128 witnesses, including police officers present at the event. The findings have been delivered to the state Home Department, and Chief Minister Adityanath is expected to review the report soon.
Preliminary details suggest that the organizers had anticipated a crowd of around 80,000 people, but approximately 2.5 lakh attendees showed up. The SIT report indicates that this significant discrepancy in the expected and actual number of participants was a crucial factor in the tragedy. Some reports also hint that the self-styled godman and his aides might have prevented the incident.
Following the stampede on July 2, nine individuals, including the main organizer Devprakash Madhukar, were arrested. However, Narayan Sakar Hari has not been named as an accused in the FIR and has been evading authorities since the incident. His lawyer, AP Singh, stated that the preacher is willing to cooperate with investigators, alleging that unidentified individuals might have instigated the stampede by spraying poison at the event.
Senior police officer Anupam Kulshreshtha informed news agency PTI that while the evidence primarily points to the organizers’ culpability, the possibility of a conspiracy has not been ruled out. The stampede reportedly began as followers rushed to collect dust stirred up by the godman’s car, leading to chaos exacerbated by his private security pushing the crowd.
In response to the incident, Chief Minister Adityanath emphasized strict action and did not dismiss the potential of a conspiracy. “If this is not an accident, then whose conspiracy is this? All of these will be probed,” he stated. Alongside the SIT investigation, a judicial panel led by a retired high court judge is also examining the stampede.
