In the aftermath of the tragic stampede that claimed 121 lives at a religious gathering in Hathras, advocate AP Singh has alleged that the incident was triggered by the spraying of poison by unidentified individuals. The stampede, which primarily took the lives of women and children, occurred during a ‘Satsang’ event hosted by self-styled godman Suraj Pal, also known as ‘Bhole Baba’, in Fulari village, Uttar Pradesh, on July 2.
AP Singh, representing the case, asserted that the group responsible for the chaos fled after spraying the poisonous substance, suggesting a pre-planned conspiracy. He urged the Special Investigation Team (SIT) to thoroughly investigate and identify those behind the incident.
The main accused, Devprakash Madhukar, was recently presented before the Chief Judicial Magistrate Court and subsequently sent to 14 days of judicial custody. Madhukar disclosed during the hearing that he had obtained permission from the SDM for an assembly of 80,000 people, denying any public announcement of the event.
Previously on the run, Madhukar was apprehended in New Delhi on July 5, with police also arresting two other suspects, Ramprakash Shakya and Sanju Yadav, in connection with the incident.
Meanwhile, ‘Bhole Baba’ Suraj Pal Singh issued a video statement expressing sorrow over the tragic events and assuring that those responsible for the chaos would face consequences. He called for support from the community to assist the families of the deceased and the injured during this difficult time.
The Hathras stampede has sparked widespread concern and mourning across the nation, highlighting issues of safety and accountability during large public gatherings.
