Bhole Baba still absconding, not been found inside the ashram: DSP Mainpuri

New Delhi: Following the deployment of security forces outside Bhole Baba's ashram on Thursday, Mainpuri Sunil Kumar, the Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP), declared that “Baba has not been found inside the ashram.”

Within the ashram, “There are 40-50 sevadars inside the ashram. He ('Bhole Baba') is not inside, neither he was yesterday nor he is today...,” he said.

#WATCH | Uttar Pradesh: On police deployment outside Bhole Baba's ashram, DSP Mainpuri Sunil Kumar says, "...There are 40-50 sevadars inside the ashram. He ('Bhole Baba') is not inside, neither he was yesterday nor he is today..." pic.twitter.com/gVzUHk9FGF

— ANI (@ANI) July 3, 2024

Rahul Mithas of SP City stated, "I had come to check the ashram's security. This place was empty." Meanwhile, the chief minister of Uttar Pradesh, Yogi Adityanath has ordered action on the incident.

Committee formed for enquiry

Uttar Pradesh Governor Anandiben Patel on Wednesday established a three-member Judicial Inquiry Commission, chaired by Justice (retd) Brijesh Kumar Srivastava, in response to the tragic Hathras stampede that left 121 people dead. The commission's goal is to ensure that the investigation is transparent and comprehensive.

The Commission is composed of three members: Bhavesh Kumar Singh (Retd., IPS), Hemant Rao (Retd., IAS), and Brijesh Kumar Srivastava, Hon'ble Justice (Retd.), Allahabad High Court (Chairman).

Within the following two months, the Judicial Commission will look into all facets of the Hathras stampede, and after it is finished, it will present a report to the State Government.

The preacher known as Suraj Pal, or ‘Bhole Baba,’ is also known as Jagat Guru and Narayan Sakar Hari.

How did the incident happen?

According to prime facie, the number of devotees gathered at the location was not under permissible limit, who rushed to seek blessings and collect the soil from around the preacher’s feet, but were stopped by the security officials of ‘Bhole Baba.’ Later they started pushing everyone and fell on the ground, leading to chaos which claimed several lives and left many injured. 

Meanwhile, the police have registered an FIR against the ‘Mukhya Sevadaar’ and other organisers of the ‘Satsang’. However, the preacher ‘Bhole Baba’ is still absconding, so which the Utter Pradesh Police has launched a search operation.