Six officials have been suspended by the Uttar Pradesh government on Tuesday over the Hathras stampede case after the Special Investigation Team submitted its report. Among those suspended are the Sikandrarao Sub-Divisional Magistrate and Circle Officer.
The SIT submitted its 300-page report to the Uttar Pradesh government on Tuesday blaming the organisers of the satsang for the stampede, where 121 people were killed.
The report stated that the committee organising the religious event was responsible for inviting more people than permitted. Notably, Sikandrarao SDM and CO's statements were recorded by the SIT in its report, apart from District Magistrate Hathras, Ashish Kumar and Superintendent of Police, Nipun Agarwal.
The SIT had recorded statements of 119 people including the family members of the deceased and the injured devotees.
The SIT comprised Additional Director General of Police (Agra Zone) Anupam Kulshrestha and Aligarh Divisional Commissioner Chaitra V.
The report claimed that the organising committee invited more people than permitted, failed to make adequate arrangements and the officials did not inspect the site despite granting permission.
Government agencies, including police, have so far blamed the organisers for the mismanagement at the event, noting that the size of the crowd exceeded to over 2.50 lakh from the permitted 80,000.
So far, nine people, including key accused Devprakash Madhukar, have been arrested in connection with the stampede.
Madhukar was the main organiser and fundraiser of the July 2 satsang by self-styled godman Surajpal alias Narayan Sakar Hari alias Bhole Baba at Phulrai village in Hahtrad district of Uttar Pradesh.
The godman has not been named as an accused in the FIR lodged on July 2.