Two days after a devastating stampede at a ‘satsang’ event in Hathras claimed 121 lives, including children, the Uttar Pradesh Police has taken action. Six organizers of the event have been arrested, including four men and two women who served as ‘Sevadars’ (volunteers) on the organizing committee
Aligarh range IG Shalabh Mathur confirmed that those arrested were responsible for managing the crowd independently, often obstructing the administration’s efforts to maintain order during the massive gathering.
Main Accused Remains at Large
Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath has directed a judicial investigation, headed by retired High Court judge Brijesh Kumar Srivastava, along with retired IAS officers Hemant Rao and Bhavesh Kumar Singh, into the tragic incident. Although the police have filed a First Information Report (FIR) against the event organizers and investigations are ongoing, Narayan Sakar Vishwa Hari, also known as ‘Bhole Baba’, has not been included as a named suspect in the case.
जनपद हाथरस की दुर्भाग्यपूर्ण दुर्घटना में हुई जनहानि अत्यंत दुःखद एवं हृदय विदारक है।
मेरी संवेदनाएं शोक संतप्त परिजनों के साथ हैं।
संबंधित अधिकारियों को राहत एवं बचाव कार्यों के युद्ध स्तर पर संचालन और घायलों के समुचित उपचार हेतु निर्देश दिए हैं।
उत्तर प्रदेश सरकार में मा.…
— Yogi Adityanath (@myogiadityanath) July 2, 2024
Despite the arrests, the main accused identified in the FIR, ‘Mukhya Sevadar’ Dev Prakash Madhukar, is still evading authorities. A reward of Rs 1 lakh has been announced for information leading to his arrest. Madhukar, an engineer in the UP Panchayati Raj department, is crucial to the ongoing investigation.
Search for ‘Bhole Baba’ Intensifies
Narayan Sakar Hari alias ‘Bhole Baba’, the self-styled preacher who led the ‘satsang’, remains elusive. Police have conducted raids in multiple cities, including Mainpuri, Gwalior, Kanpur, and Hathras, but have yet to apprehend him. Reports indicate Hari has no fixed ashram and sustains himself on a pension from his previous employment with the UP police.
Legal and Past History
Hari’s lawyer, AP Singh, affirmed his client’s willingness to cooperate with the investigation. Hari, known for previous legal troubles in 2000 related to claims of possessing magical powers, has been sought for questioning amidst allegations surrounding the tragic incident in Hathras.
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