Self-proclaimed religious preacher Suraj Pal, also known as ‘Bhole Baba,’ made his first public appearance on Wednesday since the Hathras stampede, which resulted in the deaths of 121 people on July 2.
“I am extremely sad after the incident of July 2, but who can stop what’s bound to happen? Whoever has come has to go one day or the other,” the godman told ANI.
Alleging conspiracy, Pal, who has not been named in the FIR, added, “Our advocate Dr AP Singh and eyewitnesses have told us about a poisonous spray. It is true that there is some conspiracy. We have faith in the SIT and judicial commission and that the truth will come out…Right now, I am in my birthplace Bahadur Nagar, Kasganj.”
The lawyer of ‘Bhole Baba’ asserted that the stampede was caused by “some poisonous substance” sprayed by “some unidentified men”.
“Witnesses have reached out to me and said there were 15-16 people carrying cans of a poisonous substance that they opened in the crowd. I have seen post-mortem reports of those killed and it showed that they died of asphyxiation and not because of injuries,” the preacher’s lawyer AP Singh had alleged.
At least 11 individuals, including Devprakash Madhukar, the main organiser and fundraiser of the July 2 ‘satsang,’ have been arrested in connection with the stampede that claimed lives. The Uttar Pradesh government’s Special Investigation Team (SIT) has found the ‘satsang’ organisers responsible for the incident. Following this finding, the government suspended the local sub divisional magistrate (SDM), a circle officer, and four others.
According to the SIT report, the organisers of the ‘satsang’ failed to make adequate arrangements to manage the crowd and allegedly obtained permission by withholding crucial information. The probe also revealed that the SDM granted permission for the event without inspecting the venue or informing senior officials. Additionally, members of the organising committee reportedly behaved improperly with the police.
A separate judicial commission, led by retired Allahabad High Court judge Brijesh Kumar Shrivastava and retired IPS Hemant Rao, is also investigating the Hathras stampede incident.
