The organisers of the religious gathering in Hathras, where 116 individuals died in a stampede, have been named in an FIR filed by the Uttar Pradesh Police on Wednesday.
Devprakash Madhukar, the 'Mukhya sevadar,' and other organisers have been mentioned in the FIR filed at the Sikandara Rao police station late Tuesday, as informed by a senior officer to PTI. However, 'Bhole Baba', aka Saakar Vishwa Hari Bhole Baba, has not been named in the FIR.
The FIR has been registered under Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita sections 105 (culpable homicide not amounting to murder), 110 (attempt to commit culpable homicide), 126 (2) (wrongful restraint), 223 (Disobedience to order duly promulgated by the public servant), 238 (causing disappearance of evidence), the officer said.
Officials have put the death toll at 116-108 of them women and seven children. The victims were part of the crowd of thousands that had gathered near Phulrai village in the Sikandra Rao area for the 'Satsang' by religious preacher Bhole Baba.
The stampede occurred around 3.30 pm when Baba was leaving the venue.
Several bodies were held at the local hospital. Some were located at the trauma centre in Sikandrarau near the scene of the incident, while others were transferred to the government hospital in the neighbouring Etah district.
The District Magistrate Ashish Kumar informed the media that it was a private event for which permission was granted by the sub-divisional magistrate. The local authorities provided security outside the venue, while the organisers were responsible for the internal arrangements.
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