Lucknow: The noose has started tightening around self-styled godman Bhole Baba, a.k.a Narayan Saakar Hari during whose religious event the stampede took place in Uttar Pradesh’s Fulrai Village in Hathras District on Tuesday.
As many as 121 lives were lost in the tragedy that also left over 25 people injured.
Though Bhole Baba’s name does not figure in the initial FIR filed in connection with the incident in which mostly women were killed, the police have cordoned off his ashram in Mainpuri, following reports that the godman could be hiding in his palatial abode.
“We have found the location of his mobile phone to be near his ashram and we are keeping a close watch,” said a senior police officer.
Meanwhile, UP Chief Minister, Yogi Adityanath who visited Hathras on Wednesday has announced a judicial probe into the stampede.
Yogi Adityanath interacted with injured people in hospital and took first hand information about the circumstances leading to the tragedy.
“I talked to several eyewitnesses and they informed me that the incident took place after the ‘satsang’ ended and the preacher was coming down from the stage. Suddenly several women started going towards him to touch his feet and the ‘sevadars’ stopped them, due to which the mishap took place. The administration was not allowed by the ‘sevadars’ to enter the area,” Chief Minister Adityanath said at a press conference.
A video clip has also gone viral on social media which shows the godman leaving the venue in his car and hundreds of devotees running behind his car to gather the dust as a token of blessing.
The report submitted by the Sub-Divisional Magistrate states that the behaviour of the godman’s ‘sevadars’ was responsible for the tragedy. The ‘sevadars’ tried to push back the devotees which led to the stampede.
The report also says that the number of devotees who arrived at the discourse was three times more than the number for which permission had been sought.
In a related development, a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) has been filed before the Allahabad High Court seeking a CBI enquiry into the Hathras stampede.
The PIL moved by Advocate Gaurav Dwivedi, states that the district authorities were “totally responsible” for the “negligence” due to which the tragedy occurred and that this poor law and order situation in the state would lead to people losing faith in the UP government.
The PIL further states that the district authorities have mechanisms in place to prevent and control any unwarranted situations, and the state government is investing substantial public funds in new techniques, for better administration. Despite this, the incident occurred.
Further, the petitioner has submitted that he is very concerned about the safety of devotees who would be attending the Maha Kumbh, the world’s largest religious gathering, which is scheduled to take place in Prayagraj in 2025.
(IANS)
