Controversy Surrounding Self-Styled Godman ‘Bhole Baba’ Escalates After Stampede Tragedy in Hathras

Controversy has erupted around self-styled godman ‘Bhole Baba‘ following a tragic stampede incident in Hathras, prompting scrutiny from the authorities. The Uttar Pradesh Police are actively searching for Narayan Saakar Hari, also known as Bhole Baba, after a religious congregation led by him resulted in the deaths of over 120 individuals, including women and children, in Phulrai village.

The police’s efforts to apprehend Bhole Baba have so far been unsuccessful, with raids conducted at various locations including the Ram Kutir Charitable Trust in Mainpuri district, where the Baba was not found. The authorities have also filed an FIR against Mukhya Sewadar Devprakash Madhukar and unnamed organisers, omitting Bhole Baba’s name from the legal document.

Anupam Kulshreshtha, Additional DG of Agra Zone, disclosed that specialized police teams are involved in tracking down the event organizers responsible for the ‘Satsang Sabha’ which led to the tragic stampede. Despite the association of Bhole Baba with high-profile individuals like Samajwadi Party‘s leader Akhilesh Yadav, his name remains absent from the initial FIR.

Investigations have revealed that the congregation exceeded the approved capacity, with organizers expecting 80,000 attendees yet accommodating over 2.5 lakh people. The stampede ensued when devotees tried to approach Bhole Baba for blessings, only to be obstructed by his security personnel, resulting in the fatal incident.

The Sub Divisional Magistrate report has identified the security guards of Bhole Baba as the primary cause of the stampede, as devotees were pushed into a dangerous position leading to suffocation and casualties. The tragic event has left the nation in shock, with the death toll revised to 121 individuals.