Hathras Stampede: Baba Bhole’s Security, ‘Sevadars’ Pushed, Shoved Darshan-Seeking Devotees Down ‘Slippery Slope’; SDM’s Report

A preliminary report on the Hathras stampede submitted by the Sub-Divisional Magistrate said the chaos was triggered after security men escorting self-styled godman Narayan Sakaar Hari aka Baba Bhole, pushed and shoved his followers down a "slippery slope"

Hathras Stampede: The security men escorting self-styled godman Narayan Sakaar Hari aka Baba Bhole, pushed and shoved his followers down a “slippery slope”, as they swarmed the preacher’s car to seek “darshan”, triggering the stampede which claimed 121 lives in Hathras, a preliminary report filed by the SDM stated Wednesday.

As per the report on the Hathras stampede submitted by Sub-Divisional Magistrate (SDM) Sikandra Rao to District Magistrate (DM), the Baba’s devotees were pushed away by the godman’s security as they tried to reach his car to seek “darshan”, triggering chaos due to which some fell down a “slippery slope” and a stampede broke out.

In his report, the SDM, who gave permission for the ‘satsang’ (religious congregation), said he was also present at the venue when the incident occurred.

“A crowd of more than 2 lakh people was present in the satsang pandal. Shri Narayan Sakar Hari (Bhole Baba) reached the satsang pandal at about 12.30 pm and the program went on for 1 hour.

“After this, at about 1.40 pm, Shri Narayan Sakaar Hari (Bhole Baba) came out of the pandal to go towards Etah on National Highway-91,” the preliminary report said, adding that when the godman was leaving the venue, his followers started running towards him for a ‘darshan’ and collect soil from around his feet.

“Satsangi women/men/children etc. started applying the dust of Baba’s feet on their foreheads (while trying) to get his darshan, touch his feet and take his blessings,” the report stated.

Baba Bhole’s security pushed followers, triggering stampede

According to the July 2 report, the situation got worse when a large number of the Baba’s followers, who were waiting for their turn on the divider of the road ahead ran towards the preacher’s car, prompting the security personnel and sevadars of the Baba to push them away.

“A large number of people were already standing on the dividers in the middle and on the sides of GT road, who started jumping from the dividers and started running towards Baba’s vehicle to get his darshan. Then Baba’s personal security personnel (Black Commandos) and sevadars started pushing and shoving the crowd themselves to stop the crowd, due to which some people fell down,” the report states, adding this led to a panic and the crowd went out of control.

“Due to which the crowd ran towards the open field in front of the venue to get relief, on the other side of the road, where most of the people slipped and fell due to the wet slope while descending from the road towards the field,” the report said.

The report said that those who fell down were unable to get up again and were trampled by others coming from behind.

“After this, they could not get up again and the crowd started running here and there over them,” the report mentioned.

Hathras stampede

On Tuesday, a stampede broke out at a ‘satsang’ by self-styled Godman Bhole Baba in Phulrai village of Hathras district, which snuffed out 116 lives, most of them women, on the day itself. According to eyewitness accounts, the stampede broke out when people ran after preacher’s car to collect ‘Charan Dhull’ (dust of feet), as the Baba started to leave the venue.

Reports said the people slipped in the slush as they scrammed after the godman’s car, leading to a stampede which left 121 people dead.

“There was a Satsang of Bhole Baba going on. Right after the Satsang finished, several people started coming out from there. A stampede took place as the road was uneven and people fell on each other,” said an eyewitness who survived the stampede.

Bhole Baba remains elusive

The Uttar Pradesh Police have registered an FIR in the case, naming Devprakash Madhukar, referred to as ‘Mukhya Sewadar’ and other organisers of the ‘Satsang’ as the accused, and alleged that they hid evidence and flouted conditions by packing the event venue with three times of its permitted capacity.

Police have also launched searches at Ram Kutir Charitable Trust in Mainpuri district as they hunt for Narayan Saakar Hari, popularly known as Bhole Baba, the preacher of the ‘satsang’ in Hathras where the stampede occurred.

However, the preacher was not found at the premises and remains untraceable, the police said. “We did not find Baba ji inside the campus. He is not here,” Deputy SP Sunil Kumar said earlier.

Baba Bhole not named as accused

Notably, the Baba’s name, which is in the original complaint, is not listed among the accused in the FIR which stated that the godman, who was the main speaker of the satsang, came out at about 2 pm in his vehicle and devotees starting collecting mud from there.

Due to the heavy rush of devotees, those lying down (for taking the mud) started getting trampled. Some running away from the spot were stopped by the Baba’s stick-wielding helpers standing on the other side of a three-feet deep field filled with water and slush due to which women, children and men got crushed, it said.

(With inputs from agencies)