The report prepared by the Special Investigation Team (SIT) formed to look into the Hathras stampede was submitted to Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath here on Friday.
The judicial commission, headed by the retired judge of the Allahabad High Court Brijesh Kumar Srivastava, also held its first meeting in Naimisharanya in Sitapur. The members of the commission will soon visit Hathras to proceed with the probe.
The commission was constituted by the chief minister to investigate the Hathras incident and explore the possibility of a “conspiracy” behind the stampede.
Meanwhile, Director General of Police Prashant Kumar and Chief Secretary Manoj Kumar Singh met the chief minister at his 5 Kalidas Marg official residence and handed over the SIT investigation report in the stampede case on Friday afternoon. This means that the report of this heartbreaking incident in Hathras has now reached the chief minister. It is believed that many big revelations may have been made in this detailed 15-page report.
Meanwhile, the SIT team investigating the Hathras stampede case has recorded 90 statements so far. SIT chief Anupam Kulshreshtha gave this information on Friday. Additional Director General of Police (Agra Zone) Kulshreshtha is leading the three-member SIT which is preparing a detailed report on the case related to the death of 121 people in the stampede after a satsang on July 2.
Talking to media persons, ADG Kulshreshtha said, “So far 90 statements have been recorded. The preliminary report has been submitted, while the detailed report is being prepared.”
The confidential report includes the statements of Hathras District Magistrate Ashish Kumar, Superintendent of Police Nipun Agarwal and senior officials of the Health department who took stock of the emergency situation caused by the stampede, Sub-Divisional Magistrate Sikandra Rao who sanctioned permission for the programme, sewadars already arrested in the case and other officials who visited the spot on the fateful day.
Regarding the status of the police investigation, the officer said that the scope of the investigation had been enhanced after more evidence came to light. He said, “The evidence collected definitely indicates the shortcomings made by the organisers of the programme.”
Meanwhile, Devprakash Madhukar, the main accused who is absconding, has been removed from his post of technical assistant at Sheetalpur block of Etah district where he was supervising MGNREGA work across 20 panchayats since 2010 on contract. Block Development Officer of Sheetalpur, Dinesh Sharma, said that the process for Madhukar’s removal and termination of his contract has been initiated after his name appeared as the main accused in the FIR and a reward of Rs 1 lakh was announced on him by the Hathras police. Madhukar also faces a non-bailable warrant for being on the run after the incident.
Madhukar was assigned the task of preparing bills and vouchers after inspection of development work undertaken under MGNREGA in Sheetalpur block. His wife is a panchayat assistant and both reside in Sikandra Rao locality of Hathras. He was active in getting residents of his native village associated with the organisation of self-styled godman Suraj Pal (also known as Bhole Baba). Madhukar had also contested the gram pradhan’s election but had lost. Around 30 people from Madhukar’s village had gone to attend the satsang in Hathras.
It may be mentioned that so far six sevadars, identified as Ram Ladaite (50), Upendra Singh Yadav (62), Megh Singh (61), Mukesh Kumar (38), and two women Manju Yadav (30) and Manju Devi (40), who were associated with the organising committee, have been arrested in this incident.
Suraj Pal, also known as Narayan Sakar Hari or Bhole Baba, will be questioned if necessary, according to a senior officer.
