Hathras/Mainpuri. So far six people have been arrested in connection with the Hathras stampede case in Uttar Pradesh. The police has announced a reward of one lakh rupees on the main accused and sevadar in the case. The police gave this information. Aligarh division’s Inspector General of Police Shalabh Mathur told in a press conference here that six people, including two female sevadars, have been arrested so far in the case of the death of 121 people in the stampede during the satsang of Harinarayan Sakar Vishvahari alias Bhole Baba held in Fullerai village in Sikandrarao area of Hathras last Tuesday.
He informed that a reward of Rs 1 lakh has been declared on the main accused and main sevadar Dev Prakash Madhukar. A non-bailable warrant will also be issued against him soon. The Inspector General of Police said, “It will also be seen in the investigation whether any criminal conspiracy was hatched by any person or organization.” When asked about the possibility of interrogation or arrest of Bhole Baba, Mathur said, “Whether anyone will be arrested or not will depend on the investigation. If anyone’s role comes out in the investigation, action will be taken. If needed, interrogation will definitely be done.”
He said that the people arrested include Ram Narete, Upendra Singh Yadav, Nek Singh, Manju Yadav, Mukesh Kumar and Manju Devi. During interrogation, these people told that they are all members of the Satsang Organizing Committee. They mainly work as sevadaars and have organized many such events in the past. They used to make arrangements for crowd control by barricading, pandal arrangements, electricity supply and cleanliness.
Bhole baba is not present in Mainpuri’s ashram: Police
Amidst questions being raised about the role of preacher Harinarayan Sakar alias Bhole Baba in the Hathras stampede case, the police has claimed that he is not present in Baba’s ashram in Mainpuri. According to sources, the police entered Bhole Baba’s ashram in Bichhwan town of Mainpuri on Wednesday night. But no police officer is ready to say anything about this.
Police Circle Officer Sunil Kumar Singh said that the police and Special Operation Group (SPG) personnel had gone to the ashram premises but their duty was not inside the ashram but ‘outside’. He said, “50-60 sevadars are present inside the ashram. These include both men and women.” On the question whether Baba is present in his ashram, Singh said, “He was neither there yesterday nor today.” Additional Superintendent of Police Rahul Mithas posted in Mainpuri also told reporters that he did not see Baba in his ashram. On the question why he had gone to the ashram, he said, “I have come here not to investigate but to check the security.” After the stampede incident in Hathras, security has been tightened at Vishwa Hari Baba Bholenath’s ashram in Bichwan.