Bhole Baba, also known as Narayan Saakar Hari, is probably going to be taken into custody shortly after a stampede at his “satsang” (religious gathering) in Hathras, Uttar Pradesh, on Tuesday resulted in the deaths of over 100 people. Thousands of devotees attended the event organized by the self-styled godman, whose real name is Suraj Pal, at his ‘ashram’ in Mainpuri, around 100 miles away from the Phulrai village.
While some senior police officials are at Hathras’ ashram, the Ram Kutir Charitable Trust, others have arrived at the scene of the rush. The police officers observed his followers congregating in significant numbers at the ashram. A dog squad and a forensic unit are at the scene of the stampede in Hathras. There are also teams from the State Disaster Response Force (SDRF), National Disaster Response Force (NDRF), and Uttar Pradesh Provincial Armed Constabulary (PAC).
पत्नी को बहुत रोका फिर भी वो भोले बाबा के सत्संग में गई और हो गया हादसा! आगरा के पास स्थित एक गांव के रहने वाले मेहताब ने पत्नी को खोने के बाद बाबा को ढोंगी करार दिया है।#BholeBaba #Agra #Hathras | @saritatiwariuk pic.twitter.com/J8mDYlqyhx
— UP Tak (@UPTakOfficial) July 3, 2024
Emergency Response and Investigation
The Hathras stampede claimed the lives of at least 121 persons, including over 100 women and seven children. The majority of those who perished in the stampede have been recognized, according to the Uttar Pradesh government. A dog squad and a forensic unit are at the scene of the stampede in Hathras. There are also teams from the State Disaster Response Force (SDRF), National Disaster Response Force (NDRF), and Uttar Pradesh Provincial Armed Constabulary (PAC).
The Hathras stampede claimed the lives of at least 121 persons, including over 100 women and seven children. The majority of those who perished in the stampede have been recognized, according to the Uttar Pradesh government.
How the Hathras Stampede Took Place
The Hathras stampede site, according to officials, was too tiny to hold the large number of people who had assembled there on Tuesday afternoon. According to a woman who attended the “Satsang,” as the throng started to disperse, a rush started. Following the “Satsang,” followers flocked to the self-styled guru’s feet, resulting in a large crowd gathering in a constrained space, according to officials.
The’satsang’ was attended by devotees from surrounding states and several districts of Uttar Pradesh. A committee of high standing has been established to look into the occurrence. Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath has said that the panel will be led by the Additional Director General of Police, Agra, and the Aligarh Commissioner.
Case Against the Organizers of the Hathras Satsang
According to officials, a complaint has been launched in Hathras against the “satsang organisers.” Permission was given for 80,000 individuals, but over 2.5 lakh devotees showed up there, according to the FIR.
“Devotees seated on the ground were crushed as a result of the unruly crowd leaving the arena. The FIR stated that the organizing committee used sticks to forcefully stop the crowd from fleeing across muddy fields and water on the opposite side of the road. As a result, women, children, and men continued to be crushed under the weight of the throng.
According to the FIR, with the resources at their disposal, the police and administrative officers on the scene did everything they could to get the injured individuals to the hospital.
Under the new criminal code Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), they are accused of violating sections 105 (culpable homicide not amounting to murder), 110 (attempt to commit culpable homicide), 126 (2) (wrongful restraint), 223 (disobedience to order duly promulgated by the public servant), and 238 (causing disappearance of evidence).
‘Satsang’ by Hathras’s Godman
Narayan Saakar Hari, a self-styled guru, has frequently stated that he has experience working with the Intelligence Bureau. He also disclosed to his followers that he had a tendency toward spirituality even when he was employed and that he had quit in the 1990s to follow his spiritual path. He was born in the hamlet of Bahadur Nagari in the Etah district of Uttar Pradesh. His parents are Nanne Lal, a farmer, and Katori Devi. He finished his early education in the area.
According to reports, he was a top constable in the Uttar Pradesh police’s Local Intelligence Unit. After quitting the police force in 1999, he went by Narayan Saakar Hari. He says that after graduating from college, he started working for the Intelligence Bureau and became more spiritual there.
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