Hathras Stampede: Bhole Baba's Lawyer Alleges Conspiracy, Says Unidentified Men Sprayed Poison

Hathras: Advocate AP Singh, lawyer of self-styled Godman Bhole Baba in the Hathras Stampede incident, alleged foul play by some unknown miscreants. While speaking to ANI, Singh said that a few unidentified men carried poisonous sprays where the stampede occurred. Singh also claimed that the same conspirators fled the venue after triggering the stampede.

Singh alleged, "Unidentified men were carrying poisonous sprays...They ran while spraying the poisonous spray, which looked like a part of a pre-planned conspiracy...Many people lost their consciousness...I urge the Special Investigation Team to investigate who all are behind this incident..."

Will Question Anyone Required for Probe: Judicial Panel on Bhole Baba

The judicial commission set up by the Uttar Pradesh government will speak to anyone required for its inquiry into the stampede, a probe panel member said on Sunday when asked if Bhole Baba will also be questioned. 

The commission will also issue a public notice soon, asking local people and witnesses of the tragic incident to share any evidence related to the stampede, along with their statement, another member and chairperson of the panel retired Allahabad High Court judge Brijesh Kumar Shrivastava told reporters in Hathras. 

"The commission will speak to anyone required for the Hathras stampede probe," former Indian Police Service (IPS) officer Bhavesh Kumar said when asked if the judicial panel will question the 'godman' as well. The three-member judicial commission, also including former IAS officer Hemant Rao, on Sunday interacted with locals in Hathras, besides officials and witnesses of the tragedy that claimed 121 lives. 

The panel reached Hathras on Saturday and visited the stampede site near Phulrai village along National Highway 91. On Sunday morning, the team camped at the PWD Guest House along the Aligarh Road in the district and continued its inquiry. 

"We have been mandated to file our inquiry report within two months," Shrivastava told reporters on Saturday after reviewing the incident site. Hathras District Magistrate Ashish Kumar and Superintendent of Police Nipun Agarwal accompanied the team.

So far, nine people, including key accused Devprakash Madhukar, have been arrested in connection with the stampede. On Saturday, Hathras police said they are also probing the suspected funding of the congregation by a political party and warned of the "strictest possible" action against it. 

Madhukar was the main organiser and fundraiser of the July 2 'satsang' of self-styled godman Surajpal alias Narayan Sakar Hari alias Bhole Baba where over 2.50 lakh people had gathered, much beyond the permitted limit of 80,000, according to officials. 

The godman was not mentioned as accused in the FIR lodged at the local Sikandra Rao police station on July 2. Separately, a Special Investigation Team (SIT) formed by the Uttar Pradesh government is also probing the episode. The SIT is led by the Additional Director General of Police (Agra Zone) Anupam Kulshrestha. Kulshrestha told PTI on Friday that they have not ruled out the conspiracy angle in the stampede and added that the culpability of the incident was on the organisers of the event.

Key Accused Sent to 14-Day Judicial Custody

Madhukar was on Saturday sent to 14-day judicial custody by a magistrate court, officials said. Besides, Sanju Yadav, another suspect who has been arrested in connection with the case, was also sent to jail for the same duration, they said. 

Earlier in the day, Hathras Superintendent of Police Nipun Agarwal told reporters that the police would apply in the court to get the remand of Madhukar and other suspects. "Devprakash Madhukar and Sanju Yadav were produced before the judicial magistrate's court today and both were sent in judicial remand for 14 days," Assistant Prosecution Officer Uma Shankar Yadav told reporters. 

Madhukar was arrested from Delhi's Najafgarh area late on Friday night by a Special Operations Group of the Hathras police. Shakya and Yadav were arrested on Saturday from Hathras, according to police. Madhukar is the only named accused in the FIR, which also mentions as accused "several other unidentified organisers" of the satsang. The stampede after a satsang of self-styled godman Surajpal alias Narayan Sakar Hari alias Bhole Baba left 121 people, mostly women, dead. (with PTI inputs)