Hathras stampede: UP CM Yogi Adityanath announces judicial probe

In Uttar Pradesh, a deadly stampede during a 'satsang' in Hathras claimed the lives of 121 people on Tuesday. Scores of bodies were lying on blocks of ice inside a government hospital, as wailing relatives of the victims waited outside to take mortal remains back home. The victims were part of the crowd of thousands that had gathered near Phulrai village in the Sikandrarau area for the 'satsang' by religious preacher Bhole Baba. Police filed an FIR against the organisers, accusing them of hiding evidence and flouting conditions with 2.5 lakh people crammed into a venue in which only 80,000 were permitted. Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath on Wednesday announced a judicial probe into the horrific stampede.“State Government has decided to have a judicial inquiry as well which will be led by a retired High Court judge. Retired senior officials of the Administration and Police will also be a part of it,” Adityanath added.“We have formed an SIT, led by ADG Agra. It has submitted a preliminary report. They have been told to investigate this deeply. There are several angles that need to be investigated,” he said.

Hathras, UP: "The state government has decided to conduct a judicial inquiry into this matter, which will be chaired by a retired judge of the High Court. It will delve into the entire incident, including administration and police involvement, with the participation of retired… pic.twitter.com/o1Ue1FhNkp

— IANS (@ians_india) July 3, 2024

"The chief minister held a meeting with officials in the circuit house and met the injured in district hospitals," a government official said.According to the Office of the Relief Commissioner, the number of people injured stands at 28. Only four of the 121 bodies remained to be identified. Of the 116 who died on Tuesday, all were women, except for seven children and one man.
While the state police lodged an FIR against the organisers, his name is not in the list of accused though it is there in the complaint.The FIR has been 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 official said.The organisers sought permission for about 80,000 people for which police and administration made arrangements. However, over 2.5 lakh people gathered, it said.