Hathras stampede: Death toll rises to 121;hunt on for Bhole Baba

According to reports,investigation into the matter is underway. Forensic units and dog squads are present at the scene in Hathras. An FIR has been registered against Devprakash Madhukar, called the 'main sevadar', and other organizers of the religious event where the stampede took place, under sections 105, 110, 126(2), 223 and 238 of the Indian Justice Code (BNS), 2023.

Meanwhile,'Bhole Baba' is absconding since the stampede and though the police had reached Mainpuri Ashram in search of him, 'Bhole Baba' was not found there. It is being told that after the accident, Bhole Baba had reached his Ram Kutir Charitable Trust Ashram in Bichwan, Mainpuri. By evening, UP police reached his Mainpuri ashram in search of 'Bhole Baba'. Police conducted a search operation in the ashram, but Bhole Baba was not found in the ashram. According to Mainpuri DSP Sunil Kumar Singh, Baba was not found inside the premises. He is not there.

According to reports,Bhole Baba's real name is Surajpal. He is a resident of Bahadur Nagar in Kasganj district. Surajpal left his job as a policeman in the late 1990s and turned to spirituality.Surajpal alias Bhole Baba does not have any children and he also takes his wife with him to satsang.

During satsang, the responsibility of management lies with Baba's volunteers. In satsang of Bhole Baba held in Hathras, the responsibility of managing the crowd was also with his volunteers. According to Sikandrarao's sub-divisional magistrate Ravendra Kumar, the accident occured when after the program was over, the devotees tried to get a glimpse of Bhole Baba. They also wanted to collect some soil from around Baba's feet. The volunteers tried to stop the people.In between, a stampede occurred.