In a decisive move following the tragic stampede in Hathras that claimed 121 lives on July 2, the Uttar Pradesh government suspended six officials on Tuesday. The suspended officials include Sikandra Rao Sub-Divisional Magistrate Ravindra Kumar, Circle Officer Anand Kumar, Tehsildar Sushil Kumar, Station House Officer Ashish Kumar, and chowki in-charge officers Manveer Singh and Brijesh Pandey. This action was taken after a Special Investigation Team (SIT) submitted its report on the incident.
The stampede, which occurred during a religious event organized by Suraj Pal, also known as Bhole Baba or Narayan Sakaar Hari, has been a subject of intense scrutiny. Despite the magnitude of the tragedy, no questions have been raised about the godman at the center of the episode. The SIT report, however, does not rule out the possibility of a conspiracy, aligning with Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath's recommendation for an in-depth investigation into the incident.
The SIT, led by Additional Director General of Police (Agra Zone) Anupam Kulshreshtha and Divisional Commissioner (Aligarh) Chaitra, conducted inspections at the stampede site on July 2, 3, and 5. During their investigation, they collected statements from 125 individuals, including administrative and police officials, the general public, and eyewitnesses. The team also reviewed copies of news articles, on-site videography, photographs, and video clippings related to the incident.
According to the SIT's findings, the event organizers were primarily responsible for the calamity. The report criticized the suspended officials for their lack of seriousness and failure to inform their seniors about the event. The SIT stated, "The sub-divisional magistrate of Sikandra Rao granted permission for the event without inspecting the venue and did not inform senior officials. The said officials did not take the program seriously, and senior officials were also not informed."
Furthermore, the SIT highlighted that the organizers obtained permission for the event by concealing facts and not following the conditions set by the local administration. They did not make adequate arrangements to manage the large crowd, leading to chaos and disorder. The SIT also found that the organizing committee misbehaved with the police and attempted to prevent local authorities from inspecting the venue.
The findings of the SIT have shed light on the significant lapses in administrative and police oversight that contributed to the tragedy. The UP government?s swift action in suspending the officials involved demonstrates a commitment to accountability and justice for the victims of the stampede. As investigations continue, the focus remains on ensuring such a tragedy does not recur and that those responsible are held accountable.
