Narayan Sakaar Hari, alias Bhole Baba, the ‘godman’ at the centre of the Hathras stampede, one of the biggest such in recent times that led to at least 121 deaths, was seen today in a video message for the first time after the tragic incident. He expressed his condolences over the incident on Saturday and said that he had full faith that those who created chaos at the event will not be spared.
“I am deeply saddened after the incident on July 2. May God give us the strength to bear this pain. Please have faith in the government and the administration. I have faith that anyone who created the chaos will not be spared,” he said. Bhole Baba added that his lawyer has requested the satsang committee members to lend their support to the bereaved families.
His video statement comes as the authorities are seeking Surajpal alias Narayan Sakar Hari alias Bhole Baba for questioning for the incident that took place at his satsang in Hathras district’s Fulrani village.
Meanwhile, Devprakash Madhukar, the main accused in the stampede which claimed 121 lives, has been taken into custody by Uttar Pradesh Police after he surrendered in Delhi, his lawyer claimed on Friday night. Till Thursday, six people, including two women volunteers who were members of the organising committee of Bhole Baba’s ‘satsang’, had been arrested in the case. The case was registered at the Sikandra Rao Police Station in Hathras.
Baba is revered by his followers who believe he’s a “healer” with “cures”, an “exorcist” who “gets rid of evil spirits”, and a “godman” with “magical powers” who can grant their wishes.
In fact, his alleged claim of “magical powers” even got him arrested in Agra in 2000, when he allegedly took the body of a 16-year-old girl forcibly from her family, claiming he would bring her back to life. The case was later closed.
The Uttar Pradesh Police has now arrested seven satsang organisers, including two women, in connection with the stampede. Aligarh IG Shalabh Mathur said, “They all are members of the organising committee and worked as ‘Sevadars’.”
On July 3, the Uttar Pradesh government had formed a three-member judicial commission headed by a retired high court judge to probe the Hathras tragedy and to look into the possibility of a conspiracy behind the stampede.
