In a heartfelt and solemn address, Surajpal, widely known as Bhole Baba, has broken his silence regarding the devastating stampede in Hathras. During an interview with news agency ANI, Bhole Baba conveyed his deep sorrow over the incident and assured that those responsible for the chaos would face justice.
Surajpal, appearing to read from a prepared statement, expressed his grief and called for unity and faith. In the video, he said, “I am deeply saddened by the incident of July 2. May God give us the strength to bear this pain. Please keep faith in the government and the administration. I have faith that anyone who created the chaos will not be spared.” He further mentioned his efforts through legal channels, stating, “Through my lawyer AP Singh, I have requested the members of the committee to stand with the bereaved families and the injured and help them throughout their lives.”
Bhole Baba’s statement came shortly after the arrest of Dev Prakash Madhukar, the main accused in the stampede. Madhukar, a close aide of Bhole Baba and the main sevadar for the satsang, was detained in connection with the tragedy. Authorities have also announced a reward of one lakh rupees for the arrest of the main organiser involved in the incident.
The Hathras stampede, which occurred amidst a gathering of 250,000 followers, resulted in the tragic loss of 121 lives, predominantly women. The calamity has left the community in deep mourning and searching for answers.
To ensure a thorough investigation, a three-member Judicial Inquiry Commission has been established, chaired by Justice (retd) Brijesh Kumar Srivastava. The Commission’s mandate is to scrutinize the events leading to the stampede and provide a detailed report to the State Government within the next two months. This step aims to bring clarity and accountability to the incident, ensuring that justice is served for the victims and their families.
The statement from Bhole Baba and the ongoing judicial inquiry offer a glimmer of hope amidst the tragedy, as the community looks towards healing and justice. As the investigation progresses, the focus remains on supporting the bereaved families and ensuring such an incident never occurs again.