This commission will be led by former Allahabad High Court judge, Justice Brijesh Kumar Srivastav (II), with IAS officer Hemant Rao and retired IPS officer Bhavesh Kumar serving as members.
Uttar Pradesh: (On 3rd July): The Uttar Pradesh Government has established a three-member judicial commission to investigate the Hathras stampede, which resulted in over 120 fatalities.
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This commission will be led by former Allahabad High Court judge, Justice Brijesh Kumar Srivastav (II), with IAS officer Hemant Rao and retired IPS officer Bhavesh Kumar serving as members.
The stampede took place during a satsang organized to meet Narayan Saakar Hari, also known as ‘Bhole Baba.’ The self-styled godman, formerly known as Suraj Pal, had drawn a crowd of over two lakh devotees, far exceeding the permitted 80,000 attendees.
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A criminal case has been filed against the event organizers by the Uttar Pradesh police.
The commission has been directed to complete its investigation within two months and will examine several aspects of the case, including:
- Whether the incident was an accident, conspiracy, or a planned criminal act;
- The adequacy of crowd control measures implemented by the district administration and police;
- Compliance of the event organizers with the conditions stipulated by the district administration.
Additionally, the commission will recommend preventive measures to avoid similar incidents in the future.
On July 3, two Public Interest Litigations (PILs) were filed regarding the issue. The plea before the Supreme Court seeks the formation of a five-member expert committee under the supervision of a retired Supreme Court judge to investigate the incident, while the plea before the Allahabad High Court calls for a Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) probe and an independent judicial inquiry.
Advocate Gaurav Dwiwedi, a practicing lawyer at the Allahabad High Court, initiated the PIL in response to the devastating event that not only claimed numerous lives but also left several in critical condition. The Office of the Relief Commissioner provided an official count, confirming the casualties and detailing the current medical responses.
Medical facilities across various locations are stretched as they manage the aftermath. Six of the injured are receiving care at Jawaharlal Nehru Medical College, Aligarh, while an equal number are at Deen Dayal Hospital in the same city. Nine victims are being treated at Hathras’ Bagla Hospital, one at Agra SN Medical College, and another six at Etah Medical College.
The Uttar Pradesh police recently conducted a search at the Ram Kutir Charitable Trust in Mainpuri district. They were in pursuit of ‘Bhole Baba’, the religious leader who conducted a Satsang in Hathras where the stampede occurred.
Deputy SP Sunil Kumar reported-
“We searched the campus, but Baba ji was not found here.”
Eyewitness accounts from the scene describe a chaotic aftermath following the religious gathering. Shakuntala Devi, an eyewitness, recalled the moments leading to the tragedy:
“After the Satsang of Bhole Baba ended, a stampede occurred as people started leaving. The uneven road caused people to fall on each other.”
The local government has expressed its determination to uncover the full circumstances surrounding the incident. Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath assured a thorough investigation, emphasizing the importance of understanding the precise nature of the tragedy.
He stated-
“It’s regrettable and condemnable to politicize rather than offer condolences for such an incident. The government is deeply concerned and committed to thoroughly investigating whether this was an accident or a conspiracy, and ensuring appropriate punishment for those responsible.”
To facilitate a detailed inquiry, a special team led by Additional DG Agra has been assembled to compile a comprehensive report, as announced by CM Yogi.
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