Tragedy Strikes Hathras: 121 Dead in Stampede at Bhole Baba’s Satsang
The Uttar Pradesh police filed an FIR against the organizers of a religious gathering in Hathras after a tragic stampede claimed 121 lives. The incident occurred during a satsang led by Bhole Baba, also known as Baba Narayan Hari, who has maintained a low profile since the disaster.
Bhole Baba, a former police officer turned religious preacher, oversees several ashrams, with the largest in Mainpuri. His sermons often equate him with God. On Tuesday, as followers tried to collect dirt from his feet, a security push caused a deadly stampede on a slippery slope.
The police, enhancing security at his Mainpuri ashram, stated that Bhole Baba was not on the premises. The FIR accuses the event organizers of concealing evidence, highlighting that permission was granted for 80,000 attendees, but 2.5 lakh people showed up, causing a traffic jam on GT Road. Devprakash Madhukar and other organizers were booked.
Bhole Baba’s lawyer, AP Singh, claimed the stampede resulted from a conspiracy by anti-social elements, refuting allegations that followers scrambled for mud around the preacher’s feet. The authorities have canceled Bhole Baba’s upcoming congregations as investigations continue.