A woman constable recorded her statement in the Hathras stampede case that killed 121 people during Bhole Baba’s gathering. The court has fixed November 6 for the next hearing.
HATHRAS: A court in Hathras on Thursday recorded the statement of a woman constable in connection with the tragic stampede that took place during a religious gathering of self-styled godman Bhole Baba last year.
The incident, which occurred on July 2, 2024, between Mughalgarhi and Phulrai villages, claimed 121 lives, most of them women and children, officials said.
According to officials, the Special Investigation Team (SIT) has already completed its work and submitted a detailed charge sheet to the district court.
The court proceedings for evidence and trial have now begun, marking an important step forward in the case.
Police have named 11 people as accused, including Bhole Baba’s sevadar Devprakash Madhukar, who is being held responsible for organizing the event that led to the tragedy. All 11 accused are currently out on bail.
The self-styled godman, known by several names such as Surajpal alias Narayan Sakar Hari, has not been named as an accused in the case. Earlier, police had filed a 3,200-page charge sheet against the accused persons detailing their alleged roles in the mishap.
On Thursday, Constable Aarti appeared before the court and recorded her statement. Advocate Munna Singh Pundeer, the defence counsel, confirmed the development and said,
“Constable Aarti recorded her statement with the court on Thursday.”
He further informed that the next hearing in the case has been scheduled for November 6, when another woman constable, Kshama Saini, who was injured during the stampede, is expected to give her statement before the court.
Pundeer also claimed that
“the tragedy was the result of alleged police negligence, due to which some personnel were also suspended.”
The court has now set November 6 as the next date for further proceedings. Officials said that the process of examining witnesses and recording evidence will continue in the coming hearings as part of the ongoing trial.
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The Hathras stampede remains one of the deadliest incidents in Uttar Pradesh in recent years, sparking widespread criticism of the event’s management and police response.
The authorities continue to investigate the lapses that led to the horrifying loss of lives as the judicial process moves forward.
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