Congress MP Rahul Gandhi arrived in Hathras on Friday morning. There, he met with the victims of the stampede. He had also met with victims in Aligarh earlier.
In Green Park, Hathras, he spoke with those gathered, including Munni Devi and Asha Devi, who lost their lives, and Maya Devi, who was injured. They all hail from Nawipur Khurd in Hathras.
Gandhi also met with the family of Omvati, who perished in the calamity, which claimed lives from twenty villages and ten towns within Hathras district.
What Did Rahul Gandhi Say?
After meeting the Hathras victims, Gandhi remarked that many families suffered losses, many died. He insists he does not wish to politicize the issue but acknowledges administrative shortcomings. It's crucial to investigate these lapses, he adds.
Compensation should be equitable, he emphasizes, as these are impoverished families enduring tough times. He asserts that the Chief Minister of Uttar Pradesh should generously compensate the victims, as delayed financial support would be fruitless. The police mishandled arrangements, according to family accounts, which Gandhi finds concerning.
Earlier on Friday, Gandhi had been to Pilkhana village in Aligarh, where he engaged with the families and assured them that he would raise their issue in Parliament and strive for justice.
Gandhi's Promises to Victim Families
During his Aligarh visit, a family member expressed that Gandhi assured them of support through his party, showing genuine interest in the incident details.
Source: aajtak
Gandhi is set to meet three more families affected by the Hathras tragedy. He will visit with the hurting families of Munni Devi, Asha Devi, and Maya Devi. Munni Devi and Asha Devi were from Nawipur Khurd, and Maya Devi is currently hospitalized. Authorities have ramped up security in light of Gandhi's visit.
Arrests Related to the Organization of the Event
Uttar Pradesh police have detained six people from the event's organizing committee after finding serious flaws in their management and security protocols.
Reward for the Main Suspect
IG Shalabh Mathur announced a reward of one lakh on the head of the main suspect. Police are pursuing a non-bailable warrant for his arrest and, if needed, will interrogate 'Bhole Baba'. They are probing the criminal history of Bhole Baba, who has followers in many cities and has taken voluntary retirement from his job. A judicial commission is investigating administrative negligence in the tragedy.
The apprehended suspects are committee members who fled the scene. The police reveal that among the arrested are two women responsible for crowd management, who declined administrative intervention in their duties.
The district magistrate, Ashish Kumar, reported post-tragedy that bodies were distributed among Agra, Etah, Hathras, and Aligarh. The Uttar Pradesh government has formed a three-member judicial commission led by a retired High Court judge to investigate, including any conspiracies behind the stampede. The panel will report within two months.
