Hathras Stampede: SOG Submits Probe Report to UP Govt; Statements of 100 People Recorded

Hathras: SOG officials on Friday submitted a detailed probe report to the Uttar Pradesh government in connection with Hathras stampede horror which unfolded on July 2, leaving as many as 121 people dead and several others injured. The initial report consists of 14 pages. 

The officials have recorded statements of over 100 people, including that of DM and SSP. The SOG was asked to submit the report within 24 hours. The main motive of the report was to reveal the main reason and the negligence that led to the stampede.

During preliminary investigation, the SOG had indicated that gross negligence by organisers of the 'satsang' led to the tragedy. AS per the SOF, the lapses by the organisers included improper arrangements of the event and an attempt to cover up the tragedy.

The report was supposed to be submitted on Wednesday but due to relief and rescue work, it got delayed. After the delay, the officials had asked for three more days to submit the report.

Hathras Stampede: 6 Arrested 

Meanwhile, the Uttar Pradesh police arrested 6 people, including the Satsang organiser on Thursday.

“Six people including four men and two women have been arrested in the incident. They all are members of the organising committee and worked as Sevadars”, said IG (Aligarh Range) Shalabh Mathur.

A total of 121 people were killed, of which most were women and children, and 31 were injured in the stampede during self-proclaimed preacher Narayan Sakar Hari aka Bhole Baba's ‘satsang’ in Hathras on Tuesday.

The police have also announced a Rs 1 lakh bounty on the arrest of the main accused Prakash Madhukar. "When the stampede occurred the six servitors who are now arrested had run away from the site. Rs 1 lakh reward is being announced on the arrest of the main accused Prakash Madhukar. Soon, a non-bailable warrant will be issued against him. We will also investigate if this incident occurred due to a conspiracy."

Lapses in Hathras Stampede

Several glaring lapses have come to fore that led to the tragedy. Republic has learnt that many things which are necessary to a religious event were missing which aggravated the tragedy. The glaring lapses indicate that there was gross negligence in both taking and giving permission. Overcrowding was one of the reasons which led to the stampede incident, as per the FIR. The FIR stated that, the application submitted by the event organisers seeking permission for the 'satsang' had mentioned the number of attendees at 80,000, but the actual number was much higher. Sources revealed that as per a report, nearly 2.5 lakh people turned up at the event.

What Led to Hathras Stampede? 

As the event concluded, a stampede broke out, resulting in injuries to several people, including women and children. An eyewitness to the incident Jyoti said, “Suddenly there was pushing and shoving as there were more people than space allowed. The incident happened after the Satsang ended, when everyone tried to leave at once.” People had come to the gathering not only from Uttar Pradesh but also from other states. The accident happened while people were trying to collect the soil from Baba's feet as they were leaving. The place of the accident was muddy.