Watch: ‘Culprits won’t be spared’, says ‘Bhole Baba’ in video statement on Hathras stampede

NEW DELHI: Self-proclaimed godman Surajpal Singh aka ‘Bhole Baba’ or Narayan Sakar Hari on Saturday broke his silence on the devastating Hathras stampede incident. In a video statement, he said that he has complete faith in the government and “the one who created chaos in Hathras, would not be spared”.
The incident occurred earlier this week during a ‘Satsang’ in Fulari village, Hathras district, which led to the death of over 120 people, mainly women and children.
In a conversation with news agency ANI, ‘Bhola Baba‘ in Mainpuri said, “… I am deeply saddened after the incident of July 2. May God give us the strength to bear this pain. Please keep faith in the government and the administration. I have faith that anyone who created the chaos would not be spared.”
“Through my lawyer AP Singh, I have requested the members of the committee to stand with the bereaved families and the injured and help them throughout their lives,” he added.
Following the stampede at his ‘satsang’ in Hathras district, which claimed 121 lives and injured 31, Baba is said to be present at an ashram in Mainpuri.
A large number of police personnel have been deployed outside the ashram, and officials remain tight-lipped about Baba’s presence inside.
The devastating stampede
Preliminary reports suggest that the stampede occurred when devotees rushed to seek blessings and collect soil from around the preacher’s feet, but were stopped by his security personnel. This led to pushing and shoving, causing several people to fall and triggering the chaos that ensued.
The police FIR indicates that approximately 250,000 people had gathered for the event, despite permission being granted for only 80,000 attendees.
Main accused surrenders to Delhi Police
Meanwhile, Devprakash Madhukar, the main accused in the tragic stampede, surrendered to the Uttar Pradesh Police in Delhi on Friday night, as confirmed by his lawyer.
Madhukar, the ‘mukhya sevadar’ of the ‘satsang’ where the stampede occurred, is the only accused named in the FIR filed at Sikandra Rao police station in Hathras.
In a video message, Madhukar’s lawyer AP Singh said, “Today, we have surrendered Devprakash Madhukar, who has been called the main organiser in the FIR in the Hathras case, after calling the police, the SIT and the STF in Delhi since he was undergoing treatment here.”
Singh emphasized that they did not seek anticipatory bail, asserting Madhukar’s innocence. “What is our crime? He is an engineer and a heart patient. Doctors said his condition is stable now and so we surrendered today to join the probe,” he explained.
Madhukar’s lawyer urged the police to consider his client’s health condition during the investigation. “Police may now record his statement or question him but they must take into consideration his health condition and ensure that nothing wrong happens with him.”
Singh also mentioned that questions were being raised about Madhukar’s whereabouts, dispelling rumors of him fleeing. “We did not do anything like filing anticipatory bail or moving court which would have been viewed as an effort to save ourselves and being scared,” Singh stated.
Madhukar will assist the investigation by providing information about the “anti-social elements” present at the event. Uttar Pradesh Police had earlier announced a reward of Rs 1 lakh for information leading to Madhukar’s arrest.
Rahul Gandhi visits Hathras
In the aftermath of the tragedy, Congress leader Rahul Gandhi visited Hathras and met with the victims’ families. During his journey, Gandhi also stopped in Aligarh to meet other affected families.
Uttar Pradesh CM Yogi Adityanath has announced financial assistance of Rs 2 lakh for the families of the deceased and Rs 50,000 for those injured.
A three-member Judicial Inquiry Commission, chaired by Justice (retd) Brijesh Kumar Srivastava, has been established to ensure a comprehensive and transparent investigation. The commission will examine the stampede incident over the next two months and submit its report to the state government.