A fresh plea was filed before the Supreme Court on Wednesday over the Hathras stampede in Uttar Pradesh, alleging “utter failure of the administration”. It said nothing has been learnt from similar incidents in the past. The death toll rose to 121 while the number of injured stands at 28 in the incident, which took place at a ‘satsang’ by religious preacher Bhole Baba near Phulrai village in the Sikandrarau area of the district.
“Such incident prima facie depicts the serious condition of responsibility lapse, negligence and unfaithful duty of care towards to the public by the government authorities,” the plea stated.
It said there is information that the security at the religious congregation was inadequate. “The priest/Baba who organised the event is missing and his whereabouts are not known; he has gone underground. Several questions are being raised on the arrangements by the administration and police,” it added.
The Uttar Pradesh Police has registered an FIR against the organisers of the religious congregation. ‘Mukhya sevadar’ Devprakash Madhukar and other organisers have been named.
The FIR was 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 the public servant), 238 (causing disappearance of evidence), the officer said.
Chief minister Yogi Adityanath is likely to visit Hathras later in the day, a senior government official said. A team consisting of ADG Agra and Aligarh divisional commissioner has been formed to look into the cause of the incident. The report is to be submitted in 24 hours, the government said in a statement soon after the tragic incident.
A day before, speaking to reporters at his residence, Adityanath said, “Our government will get to the bottom of this incident and give appropriate punishment to the conspirators and those responsible. The state government is investigating this entire incident. We will see whether it is an accident or a conspiracy.”
He also slammed the political parties for politicising the incident and said, “Doing politics on such an incident is extremely unfortunate and condemnable. This is the time to heal the wounds of the victims, to sympathise with the victims. The government is sensitive in this matter and no culprit will be spared.”
The chief minister said whoever is found guilty will not be spared. According to the statement, lakhs of devotees gathered in the programme of Bhole Baba, famous as Narayan Sakar Vishwa Hari, in Hathras district. More devotees arrived at the event than the permission given by the administration.
(With PTI inputs)
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