The Sikandra Rau police station in Hathras has filed a complaint against Devprakash Madhukar of Mukhya Sevadar and other ‘satsang’ organisers in connection with the mob stampede that left 121 people dead in Hulari village in Hathras on Tuesday. However, there is no mention of Bole Baba in the complaint.
The case has been registered under Sections 105, 110, 126(2), 223 and 238 of the Board of Directors of the Indian National Security Act, 2023 (BNS).
Self-proclaimed spiritual leader Bhole Baba remains absconding and appears to be evading law enforcement. There were reports that he had been moved to a monastery on the outskirts of Mainpuri city since Tuesday night, but police declined to comment, even as security was beefed up outside the monastery and vehicular movement continued on Wednesday.
Police officers deployed near the monastery in Mainpuri ruled out the possibility of Bole Baba, also known as Sooraj Pal, being inside the monastery and said security had been beefed up for the safety of Bole Baba’s devotees inside the monastery following Tuesday’s incident.
The FIR accuses the organisers of concealing the fact that the number of participants in the ‘satsang’ would be in the hundreds of thousands. Contrary to the expected turnout of 80,000 as claimed by the organisers, the ‘satsang’ held at Phullahi village on Tuesday attracted around 250,000 devotees, the FIR alleges. The massive gathering caused traffic jams along the national highway where the religious rally was held before it ended at 2pm.
The FIR further states that around 2 pm on Tuesday, Bhole Baba’s motorcade left the venue after which devotees frantically rushed around to retrieve ‘raj’ or sand from the land where Bhole Baba’s vehicle had travelled to.Pandemonium ensued at the venue and stampede ensued at the end of the ‘satsang’.
The FIR also states that the Seva Dal and other members of the organising committee, armed with sticks, stopped the devotees and aggravated the disturbance.The FIR blames the organisers for being uncooperative, using force to stop the devotees from leaving and for attempting to destroy evidence by throwing away the devotees’ slippers and other belongings that were scattered around.
Hathras Deputy Commissioner of Police Ashok Kumar Singh said the complaint was against the organisers and that a person responsible had been named who had sought permission but given false representations about the number of attendees. “An investigation is underway and whoever is responsible will be named,” he said.
Baba frequently quotes Kabir Das in his sermons.
Journalists who attended Bole Baba’s “satsangs” in Agra recall that Baba would frequently quote revolutionary poet Kabir Das, who targeted social differences.
“Bhole Baba spoke about family values and asked his devotees to serve the elders in the family, especially his daughters-in-law, to serve their mothers-in-law,” said a veteran journalist in Agra, who also recalled that Baba had a fiery temper and liked to scold devotees who attended satsangs.
Hathras Rampage: The autopsy report said causes of death included chest trauma and asphyxiation.
“The devotees make their own arrangements, do not expect anything from Baba, and do not complain about lack of facilities at the ‘Satsang’ venue. Baba leads a cadre of volunteers who prepare the road half an hour before He arrives,” the reporter added.
“His devotees consider his visits to newly constructed homes to be equivalent to the ‘grah pravesh’ rituals organised by others when buying or building a house.
Munni Devi (50), a devotee of Baba for the past 15 years, said Baba instills family values and has magical powers.
“Five of my family members, including my two daughters-in-law, were going through tough times and had fallen ill many times. I took all five of us to Bhole Baba’s monastery, but Baba was not there. But just by praying to Baba’s portrait, all five of us got well. Since then, all our family members have been attending ‘satsang’ regularly,” said Munni Devi, who is adamantly against any action against Bhole Baba. She is confident that Baba will return to bless them.
