On Tuesday, a stampede occurred during a religious gathering, or “satsang,” in Hathras, resulting in the deaths of 121 people as of Wednesday. The event was led by Narayan Sakar Vishwa Hari, known as ‘Bhole Baba,’ a popular local preacher revered by his followers for his supposed healing and exorcism abilities.
Bhole Baba, originally named Suraj Pal, left his position as a police constable in the 1990s to become a self-styled religious preacher. Over the past two decades, he has amassed a significant following, particularly among low-income Dalit families. These families are drawn to him because he does not seek offerings and preaches a simple lifestyle free from lies, meat, fish, eggs, and alcohol.
The stampede occurred as devotees scrambled to collect dust from Bhole Baba’s feet, believed to have healing powers. Vivek Thakur, an auto-rickshaw driver, stated that many followers think this dust can cure all ailments. The situation worsened when Bhole Baba reportedly declared, “Today is doomsday,” leading to panic among the attendees.
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Many of Bhole Baba’s followers are women aged 40-70, who attend his satsangs regularly. Devotees often wear yellow lockets with his photo and perform good deeds in hopes of a better next life. Bhole Baba’s sevadars, or main followers, play a significant role in organizing these gatherings and encouraging people to attend.
Bhole Baba’s controversial past includes a 2000 incident in Agra where he was arrested for claiming he could resurrect a deceased 16-year-old girl. He and his followers forcibly took the girl’s body from her family, leading to a confrontation with the police.
A case was filed against him and others under various charges, including the Drugs and Magic Remedies (Objectionable Advertisements) Act. The case was eventually closed later that year due to insufficient evidence.
An FIR has been registered at the Sikandra Rao police station in Hathras district against Devprakash Madhukar, the chief Sevadar, and other organizers of the ‘Satsang’ in connection with the stampede that resulted in 121 deaths in Fulrai village on Tuesday. Notably, the FIR does not mention Bhole Baba.
Bhole Baba, the self-styled spiritual leader, remains elusive as law enforcement agencies have yet to trace him. Reports suggested that Bhole Baba moved to his ashram on the outskirts of Mainpuri city on Tuesday night, but police have not confirmed this despite heightened security outside the ashram. Police officials near the ashram have stated that Bhole Baba, also known as Suraj Pal, is not present there, and the increased security is for the safety of his followers in light of the incident.
The FIR accuses the organizers of concealing the true number of attendees at the ‘Satsang’. Although the organizers claimed an expected attendance of 80,000, approximately 2.5 lakh followers gathered at the event. This massive turnout led to a traffic jam on the national highway adjacent to the congregation site.
As per the FIR, chaos ensued around 2:00 p.m. on Tuesday when Bhole Baba’s convoy of vehicles left the venue, prompting followers to rush to collect the ‘raj’ or sand from the ground over which his car had passed. This frenzy triggered a stampede as the ‘Satsang’ concluded.
The FIR also states that Sevadar and other members of the organizing committee, armed with sticks, tried to control the followers, worsening the situation. The organizers are accused of non-cooperation, using force to prevent followers from dispersing, and attempting to destroy evidence by discarding followers’ belongings scattered around the venue.
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Survivors of the stampede recounted the chaos that ensued. Taramati, a widow who was injured in the stampede, mentioned that this was her fourth time attending a Satsang led by Bhole Baba. She and her sister, Urmila Devi, were among the many who believed in his teachings and healing powers.
The incident has deeply affected the local communities, particularly in villages like Sokhana, where four people died in the stampede. Bhole Baba was known for performing exorcisms in these areas, which drew large crowds. His followers, some of whom have been attending his Satsangs for over two decades, continue to believe in his abilities despite the recent tragedy.
Authorities have confirmed the details of the incident and Bhole Baba’s past arrest. Deputy Commissioner of Police, Agra, Suraj Kumar Rai, confirmed the 2000 arrest and the subsequent closure of the case. The current incident has prompted further scrutiny of Bhole Baba and his practices.
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