Self-styled godman Bhole Baba continues to elude police net

Meanwhile, the initial probe report of the Sub Divisional Magistrate (SDM), who had given permission for an assembly of 80,000 people in Phulrai village, around 47 km from Hathras city, for the ‘Satsang Sabha’ where over 2.5 lakh people gathered, has held the personal security guards of Bhole Baba responsible for the stampede.

In the report, the SDM claims that a crowd of over two lakh devotees, three times more than what was permitted, had gathered in the pandal during the Satsang. After the ‘Satsang Sabha,’ when the devotees rushed towards the convoy of Bhole Baba to take his blessings, his personal security personnel and Sewadars began to push them away once Baba’s convoy reached the main road.

As per the details of the report submitted by the SDM to the Hathras DM, the Baba left the pandal around 1.40 pm leaving a massive crowd of men, women and children standing on the road linked to the National Highway-91 heading towards Etah, the adjoining district.

Consequent to the pushes by the Baba’s commandos, people started falling into the narrow furrow (slope) while descending from the road and rushing towards the open field in front of the venue. As the area was slippery due to rain and mud, the devotees, comprising mainly women, slipped into the furrow one over the other suffocating to death.

By the time, they were taken out, many had died and others were critically injured. Meanwhile, amid the commotion, the godman, known originally as Suraj Pal, a former constable in the UP police, left along with his Sewadars and security personnel.

Till Tuesday, the death toll was mentioned as 116. Among the victims, 89 were declared “brought dead” at a local hospital in Sikandrarau, while 27 others died on the way to Etah. On Wednesday morning, the death toll was revised to 121.