Who is Bole Baba, the spiritual leader whose Hathras rally sparked violence?

Over 116 people were killed and several injured when a crowd stormed a religious rally in Hathras, Uttar Pradesh, on Tuesday. The rally was organised by the Manav Mangal Milan Sadbhavana Samagam Committee. Bole Baba Narayan Sakar Hari, a resident of Purlai Mughalgadi village in Hathras.

Hathras Stampede: Live Updates

According to information obtained by News18, the mob violence occurred during a religious event, which organisers said was poorly prepared despite having permission.

Sikandra Rao Superintendent of Police Ashish Kumar also told media persons on the same day that the stampede was apparently caused by overcrowding.

The event attracted a large crowd and posters of the event were also put up at various places in Hathras to increase footfall at the event. The posters list the names of Manav Mangal Milan Sadbhavana Samagam Committee and several others as organisers.

Spiritual Leader Bole BabaAlso known as Narayan Sakar Hari, he hails from Patiyali in Etah and the mob stampede occurred during a ‘satsang’ event organised by him.

Narayan Sarkar Hari used to help his father in farming, Navbharat TimesHe later joined the police and served in the Regional Intelligence Wing of the Uttar Pradesh Police. His career spanned 17 years, after which he assumed the role of a godman.

Unlike other priests who are often seen clad in saffron, Narayan Sakar Hari, also known as ‘Sakar Vishwa Hari Baba of Patiali’, appears dressed in white. His functions usually attract hundreds of devotees and he is also seen preaching alongside his wife.

He said after retiring from police work, he left work to begin his spiritual journey as a preacher.

The Uttar Pradesh government said it would file an FIR against the organisers of the programme.

“27 bodies have been brought to Etah hospital. The deceased include 23 women, three children and one man,” Etah Superintendent of Police Rajesh Kumar Singh said. In an update based on reports from the hospital, district officials later said between 50 and 60 people were believed to have died.

The victims were taken to Sikandara Rao Trauma Centre in trucks and other vehicles and their bodies were lying outside the centre.

A video circulating on social media showed a woman crying and screaming surrounded by five or six bodies in the truck, while other photos showed a man and a woman lying in another vehicle.

Eyewitnesses said the mob stampede saw people falling over each other as they left the venue at the end of the satsang.

Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath offered condolences to the families of those killed in the stampede and announced compensation of Rs 200,000 to the families of those killed and Rs 50,000 each to those injured.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced that an ex-gratia of Rs 20 lakh would be provided by the PMNRF to each of the next of kin of those who died in the Hathras accident, while Rs 50,000 would be given to the injured.