Hathras Stampede SIT Report Submitted To UP CM Yogi Mentions Political Links Of 'Bhole Baba'

An SIT report on the Hathras stampede, which killed 123, purportedly mentions the political links of religious preacher Narayan Saakar Hari ('Bhole Baba'). The report is with CM Yogi Adityanath now.

CM Yogi Adityanath at the Hathras stampede site on Wednesday.

The SIT constituted to probe the Hathras stampede has submitted its report on the tragedy that claimed at least 123 lives earlier this week. The stampede occurred during a 'satsang' (congregation) on Tuesday by religious preacher Narayan Saakar Hari, also known as 'Bhole Baba'.  UP DGP Prashant Kumar and Chief Secretary Manoj Kumar Singh handed over the 15-page report to Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath at his official residence at 5, Kalidas Marg, on Friday morning. 

CM Yogi Adityanath had instructed the SIT to submit the report within 24 hours. This SIT report was prepared under ADG Agra Anupam Kulsreshtha and Aligarh Commissioner Chaitra V. In the detailed report of 15 pages, statements of about 100 people, including the DM and the SP, have been recorded. The SIT members talked to administrative officials, people associated with the event and the sevadars (volunteers) to pinpoint the cause of the stampede.

Report Mentions Politicians

CM Yogi Adityanath got the complete information on the Hathras case from DGP Prashant Kumar. According to sources, the report mentions the names of some political leaders in whose elections 'Bhole Baba' played an important role. Apart from this, other links of 'Bhole Baba' have also been mentioned. 

Sources told ABP News that the report pointed towards a political conspiracy. Questions have also been raised on the roles of some local leaders, sevadars, the event's organisers, and other officials posted there for not being able to estimate the number of people in the congregation.

Earlier on Wednesday, CM Yogi Adityanath visited Hathras. He met the people injured in the incident and those whose loved ones lost their lives. While talking to journalists, CM Yogi said that when the situation worsened at the satsang, 'Bhole Baba's' servants fled the spot. 

CM Yogi Adityanath had also ordered a judicial inquiry into the Hathras incident. Earlier, the SDM's report claimed that permission was sought for only 80,000 people to attend Bhole Baba's satsang, but more than 2.5 lakh people attended the event. At the same time, the entire event was handled by the sevadars and policemen were purportedly removed from the area. 

The death toll in the Hathras incident has risen to 123 so far. Meanwhile, Congress leader and Leader of Opposition in Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi also reached Aligarh and Hathras today, where he met the victim's family and shared their grief. During this, Rahul Gandhi demanded state government compensation for the affected people and families soon.

(Report by Veeresh Pandey.)