Religious preacher Vishwa Hari Bhole Baba, whose 'satsang' in UP's Hathras on Tuesday ended in tragedy when over 100 people, including women and children, perished in a stampede, is no stranger to controversy. Bhole Baba, known as Suraj Pal before he took on his spiritual role, hails from Bahadur Nagar in the Patiyali area of Kasganj district. Seventeen years ago, he left his job in the state police to become a preacher.
Bhole Baba's following extends beyond Uttar Pradesh to Rajasthan and Madhya Pradesh. Despite his widespread influence, both the preacher and his followers maintain a distance from the media. According to a devotee, Bhole Baba had no formal religious mentor. Instead, he claims to have had a 'vision' of a deity shortly after taking voluntary retirement, which led him to his spiritual path. He regularly holds 'satsangs' every Tuesday, with the most recent being in Mainpuri district last week.
During the Covid pandemic, Bhole Baba courted controversy when he sought permission for a satsang in Farrukhabad district in May 2022. Although permission was granted for a gathering of 50 people, the crowd swelled to over 50,000, creating significant challenges for the local administration.
The stampede in Hathras occurred as servitors of Bhole Baba attempted to prevent people from leaving the venue amid the oppressive heat and humidity, allowing the preacher and his entourage to exit first. As soon as permission was granted for the attendees to leave, chaos ensued, leading to the deadly stampede. Over 100 people were killed and several others injured in the stampede. The incident took place at a 'satsang' event in Pulrai village where people had gathered in large numbers, officials said.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi expressed his condolences to those who lost their lives and announced an ex-gratia of Rs 2 lakh from the Prime Minister's National Relief Fund for the next of kin of each deceased in the mishap in Hathras. The injured would be given Rs 50,000. Senior officials reported that among the deceased were 23 women, three children, and a man. Reports from the scene indicated that victims, either deceased or unconscious, were transported to medical facilities in Sikandara Rao.
"I express my condolences to those who lost their lives in this incident. I hope for the speedy recovery of all the injured," the Prime Minister said. He added that senior officials of the central government are in constant contact with the Uttar Pradesh administration to coordinate aid efforts and assured that all possible assistance will be provided to the victims.
