Mass panic in Hathras: DSP and SDM among the six officials suspended for negligence

HATHRAS/LUCKNOW: The Uttar Pradesh government has suspended six officials — including Sikandra Rau DSP (circle officer), SDM, Tehsildar and two sub-inspectors — for negligence and dereliction of duty in the wake of the stampede at a religious function led by Surajpal Singh, also known as Bhole Baba, in Hathras that left 121 people dead on July 2.

The action was based on a report by a two-member Special Investigation Team (SIT) set up to investigate the incident. The report did not rule out the “possibility of a conspiracy” behind the incident.

The officials against whom action has been taken include DSP Anand Kumar, SDM Ravindra Kumar, Sikandra Rau SHO Ashish Kumar, Tehsildar Sushil Kumar, In-charge of Kachora Police Outpost (SI) Manveer Singh and In-charge of Pora Outpost (SI) Brijesh Pandey. The SIT held the organisers of the event responsible and criticised the police and administration for their failure in conducting the event.

SIT: Organizers failed to comply with conditions set by Hathras administration
The 300-page report of the SIT, headed by Deputy DGP Anupam Kulshreshtha and District Commissioner Chaitra V, was prepared after recording statements of 125 people — including police and administrative officials, eyewitnesses and the public — and reviewing news articles, videos and photographs related to the incident, and revealed serious lapses by both the organisers and the local administration. Statements of Sikandra Rau SDM and CO, Hathras DM Ashish Kumar and SP Nipun Agarwal were included in the report.

“The SDM of Sikandra Rau gave permission for the event without inspecting the venue and also did not inform senior officials. Other officials recommended permission without checking the arrangements at the venue. The said officials did not take the programme seriously,” it said.

The report accused the organizers of not adhering to the conditions set by the administration and not taking precautions despite the expectation of a large crowd. It further said: “The organizers obtained permission for the event by concealing facts and not adhering to the conditions set by the administration. Persons whose proper police verification was not carried out contributed to the unrest.”

A senior official said, “The committee misbehaved with the police and tried to prevent them from inspecting the venue. The satsang artists mingled with the crowd without any security arrangements. Despite the large number of participants, no barricades or passageways were put up. When the stampede occurred, the organisers fled.”

CM Yogi Adityanath had earlier demanded a thorough investigation. He also ordered a judicial inquiry into the incident.

By Tuesday, eleven volunteers had been arrested, including the main accused Devprakash Madhukar, the main organizer and fundraiser of the satsang.