GUWAHATI: In response to the devastating stampede at a religious event in Hathras, which claimed the lives of over 120 people, the Uttar Pradesh government has established a three-member judicial commission to investigate the incident. This commission has been given a two-month deadline to complete its probe.
The inquiry will be led by Justice Brijesh Kumar Srivastav (II), a former judge of the Allahabad High Court. Joining him are IAS officer Hemant Rao and retired IPS officer Bhavesh Kumar.
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The stampede occurred during a satsang organised by Narayan Saakar Hari, also known as 'Bhole Baba,' previously known as Suraj Pal. The event, which took place on Saturday, drew a massive crowd of over two lakh devotees, far exceeding the permitted attendance of 80,000.
The Uttar Pradesh police have registered a criminal case against the event's organisers. The inquiry commission will investigate several critical aspects, including:
• Whether the stampede was an accident, a conspiracy, or part of a planned criminal act.
• The adequacy of crowd control measures implemented by the district administration and police.
• Compliance by the organisers with the conditions stipulated in the event's permission granted by the district administration.
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The commission is also tasked with suggesting preventive measures to avoid similar tragedies in the future. Two PILs were filed in response to the tragedy on Wednesday.
One, filed before the Supreme Court, seeks the establishment of a five-member expert committee under the supervision of a retired Supreme Court judge to investigate the incident. The other PIL, submitted to the Allahabad High Court, calls for a Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) probe and an independent judicial inquiry.
