In a decisive move, the Uttar Pradesh government has established a three-member judicial commission to investigate the catastrophic stampede at Hathras, which resulted in over 120 fatalities.
Leading the commission is Justice Brijesh Kumar Srivastav (II), a former judge of the Allahabad High Court. He will be joined by IAS officer Hemant Rao and retired IPS officer Bhavesh Kumar.
The tragic incident occurred during a satsang organized to honor self-proclaimed godman, Narayan Saakar Hari, also known as ‘Bhole Baba’ and previously as Suraj Pal. Reports indicate the gathering swelled to over two lakh devotees, far exceeding the permitted 80,000 attendees.
In response, the Uttar Pradesh police have filed a criminal case against the event’s organizers. The newly formed commission has been directed to conclude its investigation within two months, focusing on critical questions such as:
- Was the incident a tragic accident, a deliberate conspiracy, or another form of planned criminal activity?
- Were the crowd control measures by the district administration and police sufficient?
- Did the event organizers comply with the conditions set forth by the district administration for the event?
The commission is also tasked with recommending preventive measures to avert future tragedies.
Adding to the judicial scrutiny, two Public Interest Litigations (PILs) have been filed regarding the stampede. One, before the Supreme Court, seeks the creation of a five-member expert committee under a retired Supreme Court judge. The other, before the Allahabad High Court, calls for a Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) probe and an independent judicial inquiry.
