More than 25 hours have passed since the tragic death of 121 people in Hathras. The whereabouts of Surajpal alias Narayan Sakar Hari, also known as Bhole Baba, whose religious assembly was the site of the deadly stampede, are still unknown. His name has not yet been included in the FIR; only the name of a servant is listed. Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath visited Hathras today, Wednesday, to meet with the injured. He also surveyed the site of the incident afterward.
In the meantime, Bhole Baba's criminal past is also coming to light. The 'godman,' who fled after leaving 121 people to die, has a history of prior arrests. Aaj Tak has obtained a copy of the FIR, where he had been previously detained. In the year 2000, Bhole Baba was arrested in Agra. The police had arrested him in a case registered under the Act against magical remedies. At the time, seven people, including the Baba, were arrested. However, due to a lack of evidence, they were all later acquitted by the court.
Source: aajtak
A girl adopted by Bhole Baba died: Eyewitness
An eyewitness to the case, Pankaj, spoke to Aaj Tak, revealing that Sakar Hari, aka Bhole Baba, didn't have any children of his own. He had adopted a girl suffering from cancer. One day, after she suddenly became unconscious, the followers claimed Bhole Baba would heal her. Shortly after, she regained consciousness only to die moments later. Her body was taken to the Mall ka Chabutara cremation ground in Agra, but the devotees insisted that Bhole Baba would come and revive her.
...Then, the police force resorted to a lathi charge on the devotees
Pankaj added that the police force from four stations arrived on the scene and arrested Bhole Baba after conducting a lathi charge on his followers. While the police took their own action by registering the case, due to a lack of evidence, Surajpal Sakar Hari aka Bhole Baba and seven others were acquitted by the court. The police had already closed the case (FR) back in 2000.
It is worth noting that Aaj Tak had accessed a copy of the FIR registered in the year 2000. In this case, Bhole Baba was charged under section 2(g)7 of the Magical Remedies Act. The case number is 224/2000, and an FR had been filed in December 2000.
Source: aajtak
Several cases against him: Former DGP
The former DGP of UP, Vikram Singh, in a conversation with Aaj Tak, stated that Bhole Baba claimed to have been in intelligence, served as a policeman, and then took VRS. He has several cases registered against him, including cases of sexual abuse. What kind of 'saint' is this Baba?
What are the charges in the lodged FIR?
The UP Police has registered an FIR against the organizers of the stampede at Hathras. It is alleged that approval was obtained for a gathering of 80,000 people, but around 250,000 showed up. However, Bhole Baba's name is not mentioned in the FIR. It charges that the organizers concealed the true number of devotees expected at the gathering when seeking permission, did not assist in traffic management, and hid evidence following the stampede.
Source: aajtak
How did the stampede in Hathras take place?
The stampede in Hathras occurred following Bhole Baba's satsang, resulting in the deaths of hundreds. According to the FIR, the chaos ensued when at 2 PM, Bhole Baba was leaving in his vehicle. Wherever the vehicle passed, followers began to pick up dust and dirt. The uncontrollable crowd of millions trampled seated or bending devotees, leading to screams and calls for help.
The FIR states that on the other side, the crowd running through three feet deep waterlogged and muddy fields was restrained by the event committee and servants with sticks, leading to an increasing and advancing crowd that resulted in women and children being crushed.
In this case, the primary servant of Baba, Devprakash Madhukar, and other organizers have been charged in the FIR lodged at the Sikandra Rau police station. The FIR lists charges under 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 public servant), 238 (causing disappearance of evidence) of the Indian Penal Code.
