Hathras stampede: Probe team cites overcrowding as main reason in report
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Lucknow: A Special Investigation Team (SIT) report to the Yogi Adityanath government stated that the primary cause of the stampede at a 'Satsang' in Hathras, Uttar Pradesh, which resulted in the deaths of 121 people, was overcrowding.
The report, written by Aligarh Divisional Commissioner Chaitra V and Additional Director General of Police (Agra) Anupam Kulshreshtha, includes testimony from 128 witnesses, including the police officers on duty at the Satsang of Narayan Sakar Hari, also known as "Bhole Baba." Chief Minister Adityanath is expected to review the report today after it was submitted to the state Home Department.
Details are still pending, but according to certain accounts, the SIT stated that the self-proclaimed godman and his aides could have stopped the tragedy.
Earlier, the FIR filed in connection with the 'Satsang' stated that although the organisers had requested authorization for a gathering of approximately 80,000 people, a crowd of 2.5 lakh attended. Nine persons in all, including Devprakash Madhukar, the primary organiser of the July 2 event, have been taken into custody, NDTV reported.
Since the stampede, the self-styled godman Narayan Sakar Hari has been evading capture and has not been listed as an accused in the FIR. According to a statement released by his lawyer, AP Singh, the preacher is willing to assist the investigators.
The lawyer hinted at a conspiracy, saying that unnamed people had sprayed poison at the gathering, which caused the stampede. Even though the evidence points to the organisers' guilt, senior police official Anupam Kulshreshtha told news agency PTI last week that they have not ruled out the conspiracy angle.
According to reports, the stampede began as the 'godman' was departing, and his followers rushed to collect dust created by his car's tyres. According to the subdivisional magistrate's report, the godman's private security guards began shoving his followers, causing several persons to fall and be crushed.
Many others fled to the open field and slipped, only to be run over by others. In the aftermath of the event, Chief Minister Adityanath promised harsh action while not ruling out a conspiracy.
"If this is not an accident, then whose conspiracy is this? All of these will be probed," he had said. Aside from the SIT, a judicial team led by a retired high court judge is probing the stampede.