Judicial Commission Probes Hathras Stampede

In a tragic incident in Hathras, Uttar Pradesh, a stampede on July 2 claimed 121 lives during a religious gathering organized by self-styled godman Surajpal, also known as Narayan Sakar Hari or Bhole Baba. The Uttar Pradesh government’s judicial commission, led by retired Allahabad High Court judge Brijesh Kumar Shrivastava, is probing the event. The commission, which includes former IAS officer Hemant Rao and former IPS officer Bhavesh Kumar, visited the site and interacted with local residents, officials, and witnesses. The team aims to submit its report within two months. So far, nine individuals, including key accused Devprakash Madhukar, have been arrested. Authorities are also investigating potential political funding for the event, which saw a turnout of over 2.5 lakh people, far exceeding the permitted limit of 80,000. A Special Investigation Team (SIT) led by Additional Director General of Police Anupam Kulshrestha is also examining the incident, considering possible conspiracies and holding the event’s organizers accountable.