Hathras, Uttar Pradesh, became the site of a devastating stampede during a religious gathering on Tuesday. The death toll has been rising, with 121 deaths reported so far. The images emerging in the aftermath are chilling: a solitary sandal whose owner remains missing, eyes brimming with tears waiting for a return that may never happen, broken mobile phones that will never ring again, and a village that witnessed screams and tears that will remain fresh for years to come.
This tragedy followed a congregation by Surajpal aka Narayan Sakar Hari aka Bhole Baba. Held in the fields of Fulrai village near Hathras on the National Highway, the event was officially permitted for 80,000 attendees but witnessed well over that number, with some claims of up to 300,000 people gathered.
The event, lasting from 8 AM to 1 PM, was marked by devotees singing and dancing to devotional tunes. Pictures show happy faces and brightly colored clothes, typical of large festive gatherings. Bhole Baba's private army of volunteers managed security, wielding sticks and instructing people on proper behavior and seating arrangements. The humid air following a light rain had women dabbing sweat with the ends of their finest saris, while mothers with children awaited blessings before a swift return home.
All seemed well until chaos erupted around 1:30 PM. A surge followed Bhole Baba's convoy departing the site, as devotees rushed to collect his 'blessed' dust, believed to alleviate all troubles. What was a joyous scene transformed into pandemonium.The torrent of people trampling over whatever – or whoever – was in their path was unstoppable. Those sitting on the ground, unable to get up quickly, collapsed and were trampled upon. The wet fields turned into mud pits, causing many to fall and get crushed by the mass rush, unable to stop even for loved ones. Despite it being the rainy season, no precautions for such an eventuality had been taken, and the slippery fields only added to the tragedy.
Bhole Baba and his primary entourage managed to leave, while the crowd shifted from chasing blessings to searching frantically for their missing loved ones. With many still unaccounted for, as bodies were recovered, an overhead shot showed graves scattered in the mud. Those who were alive but lacking timely medical aid succumbed to their injuries. The horrifying extent of the disaster was evident when the morgue in Hathras and three other districts – Aligarh, Etah, and Agra – remained busy conducting post-mortems throughout the night. Many relatives are still searching for the missing.
Source: aajtak
The Controversy Around Bhole Baba's 'Blessed' Dust
Bhole Baba, revered by followers from various walks of life, propagated that the dust from his feet could alleviate all suffering. This led to a frenzied following, with people often rushing behind his convoy to gather the dust. Women in particular were eager, collecting the leftover dust in their scarfs. This practice had been a tradition for years. The disaster appears to be more than a result of negligence; the statements from those onsite suggest a deeper issue at hand.
Questions arise: if permission was granted for only a few thousand, why wasn't the rapidly swelling crowd stopped? Why were just 40-50 volunteers deemed enough to manage a crowd numbering in the lakhs without police presence? Why were slippery fields chosen for the event post-rain, with the potential for minor slips to turn into major disasters? There are reports of volunteers using water sprays on the crowd and intimidating them, contributing to the loss of control. After the stampede, the volunteers failed to immediately inform the local administration, opting to flee the scene along with Bhole Baba, who is still underground.
Currently, 22 individuals are charged with FIRs at the Sikandrarau Station, though the main accused, Bhole Baba, remains unlisted and on the run. Raids are ongoing in his ashrams and other locations in search of him and the primary volunteers who have also vanished with their families.
Source: aajtak
Legal Charges and Why
Various IPC sections such as 105 (non-intentional murder), 110 (attempt non-intentional murder), 126-2 (wrongful restraint), 223 (disobedience by a civil servant), 283 (tampering with evidence) have been invoked.
