Hathras Stampede: Recently, Narayan Sakar Hari, alias Bhole Baba, expressed his views on the Hathras stampede tragedy wherein 123 lives were lost during a ‘satsang’ in the Sikandrarau area on July 2. The self-styled godman said he was feeling very depressed and the occurrences at the camp had affected him considerably.
Reflections on Inevitability of Death
Bhole Baba shared his reflections concerning the inevitability of death: “Everyone has to die one day; only time is certain.” He meant to say that one could not avoid one’s fate and everyone had to face that one day. His voice was tearful as he added, “We are in deep depression after the incident on July 2. We are suffering from depression, but who can avoid destiny? Whoever comes must leave one day, whether sooner or later.”
Eyewitness accounts speaking of a poisonous spray as the reason for the stampede were also responded to by Bhole Baba. He hinted at a conspiracy in these lines, saying that some people may be trying to defame the spiritual practices being carried out by his organization. He expressed his faith in the Special Investigation Team, the judicial commission, and the followers of the Human Welfare Harmony Association exposing those responsible for the tragic incident and who conspired against them. “We stand with the families of all those who died in the incident,” Bhole Baba stated and expressed solidarity with the families of the victims.
Government Investigation Initiatives
The Uttar Pradesh government set up an SIT and a judicial commission to probe the stampede. Though the SIT, in its report on July 9, termed overcrowding as the main reason for the tragedy, it added that it couldn’t rule out any conspiracy. The organizers are to blame for not having regulated the crowd and so on, official sources said, pinning the blame on the organizers.
Despite the severity of the incident, the FIR lodged at Sikandrarau police station did not list Bhole Baba as an accused. However, Bhole Baba’s lawyer had earlier claimed that the stampede was triggered by “some poisonous substance” allegedly sprayed by unidentified persons.
Judicial Commission’s Role in Investigation
Investigation into the tragedy is also being done by the judicial commission headed by retired judge of Allahabad High Court Brijesh Kumar Shrivastava and retired IPS officer Hemant Rao. Reports from earlier government agencies, including the police, had blamed the organizers for the tragedy amidst a massive difference between the sanctioned crowd capacity of 80,000 and the actual participation of over 250,000 people.
The Uttar Pradesh Police has arrested nine people so far in connection with the incident, including two women and three senior citizens. Among the accused are several sevadars of the satsang, including one Dev Prakash Madhukar, who was the main organizer of the Hathras satsang. According to the police, Madhukar worked as a fundraiser for Narayan Sakar Hari’s events and collected donations.
Impact and Scrutiny Post Hathras Stampede
The Hathras stampede has not only left a trail of sorrow and loss but has also raised intense scrutiny and an investigation or two. It gets complicated with the involvement of high-profile people, an allegation of conspiracy against whom is charged. With the SIT and judicial commission continuing to work, the result is keenly awaited by the families of the victims, followers of Bhole Baba, and the community at large with a mixed feeling of anxiety and apprehension.
Bhole Baba condemns the tragic event, demanding an investigation in its own right—making a demand for clarity and justice. Investigation shall bring out what exactly the causes and culpabilities of the incident are, answering the questions of the mourning families and the public at large.