For the first time since the tragic stampede at a satsang event in Hathras, Uttar Pradesh, which claimed the lives of 121 people, Bhole Baba, a former constable and self-styled godman, gave a video statement expressing his sorrow and condolences.
"May God give us the strength to bear this pain. Please keep faith in the government and the administration. I believe those responsible for the chaos will be held accountable. Through my lawyer AP Singh, I have requested the committee members to support the bereaved families and the injured," Bhole Baba said in a video statement.
The satsang attracted around 2.5 lakh devotees, significantly exceeding the 80,000-person limit set by authorities.
The stampede started when attendees began collecting dust from the ground where Bhole Baba's car had passed, leading to chaos and numerous fatalities.
Bhole Baba, also known as Narayan Sakar Hari, had been untraceable since the incident. His lawyer, AP Singh, assured that Bhole Baba would cooperate with the investigation.
"We have district-wise lists of the victims, and Narayan Sakar Hari's trust will support the education, health, and wedding expenses of the families affected by the stampede," Singh stated.
Devprakash Madhukar, the chief organizer of the satsang, has been arrested in Delhi. With his arrest, the total number of arrests in the case has reached seven.
However, AP Singh claimed that Madhukar had voluntarily surrendered, not been arrested.
"Today, we surrendered Devprakash Madhukar, who was named the main organizer in the FIR in the Hathras case. He was undergoing medical treatment, and his condition is now stable, so we surrendered to join the investigation," Singh added.
An FIR was filed against Madhukar by UP Police in Hathras, naming him the prime accused in the stampede.
Six others, including two female volunteers from the organizing committee, have also been arrested.
UP Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath was briefed on the initial report from the Special Investigation Team (SIT), submitted by Additional Director General of Police, Agra Zone, Anupam Kulshrestha.
The confidential report includes testimonies from key officials like Hathras District Magistrate Ashish Kumar and Superintendent of Police Nipun Aggarwal.
The SIT has recorded statements from 90 individuals so far. Additionally, a three-member judicial commission, led by a retired high court judge, has been established by the state government to further investigate the incident.
