Journalism of Courage
THE UTTAR Pradesh Police on Thursday said six persons, including two women, have been arrested in connection with the stampede at the religious gathering in Hathras on Tuesday in which 121 people were killed.
All those arrested have been identified as “sevadars” (volunteers) of the local preacher, Suraj Pal, also known as Narayan Sakar Vishwa Hari or ‘Bhole Baba’, who addressed the satsang. The preacher, however, has not been named in the FIR.
The FIR names ‘mukhya sevadar’ Devprakash Madhukar, who is absconding. Police have announced a reward of Rs 1 lakh for information leading to his arrest. Asked if Suraj Pal would face action, Aligarh Division Inspector General of Police Shalabh Mathur said: “I am not saying if he is guilty or not. I am saying the investigation is underway and if we get evidence, we will proceed accordingly.” Asked why the preacher was not named as the main accused, he said: “Permission was not sought on his name”.
“We are getting his criminal history. He took voluntary retirement as head constable in 2000. He was posted in Agra. We are aware of an FIR against him in Shahganj police station in Agra, after which he was acquitted. Apart from this, if there is any other FIR, the information is being gathered,” he said.
The six who have been arrested have been identified as Ram Ladaite Yadav from Mainpuri, Upendra Singh Yadav from Firozabad, and Manju Devi Yadav, Megh Singh, Mukesh Kumar and Manju Yadav, all from Hathras.
According to IGP Mathur, the accused said they were members of the organising committee and worked as “sevadars”. Their main work was to mobilise crowds and collect donations, he said. “Apart from this, they also made arrangements for the events, including crowd control by setting up barricades, tents for the devotees, arranging generators for power supply etc,” he said. The volunteers were provided a uniform to set them apart from the crowd, he added.
“When the crowd came near the preacher’s vehicle to seek his blessings, the sevadars stopped them. As soon as the convoy moved ahead, they left the crowd uncontrolled, due to which the women and children started falling on each other. There was chaos,” Mathur said.
The FIR has been registered under Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita Sections 105 (culpable homicide not amounting to murder), 110 (attempt to commit culpable homicide), 126 (2) (wrongful restraint), 223 (disobedience to order duly promulgated by public servant), 238 (causing disappearance of evidence).
Rahul to visit hathras today
Congress Congress General Secretary (Organisation) KC Venugopal said Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi will visit Hathras on Friday and interact with those affected by the stampede.
