Taking cognizance of the Ratangarh temple stampede case, Madhya Pradesh State Human Rights Commission has decided to conduct a separate investigation into the incident at its own.
Acting Chairman of the Commission Justice AK Saxena stated that prima facie, the incident indicates that administrative laxity was the main reason behind the incident. He issued notices to the Chief Secretary and the DGP seeking reply on seven points regarding the incident.
The points on which report has been sought are -- reasons behind the incident, number of cops deployed at the site, numbers of cops present during the duty, and action that they took before and after the incident.
The committee also asked the top official about the number of cops and administration officials guilty of which laxity.The panel sought to know the number of women and child who died in the incident. It also asks number of people sustained serious and minor injuries and where they are being treated.
The commission also enquired about ex-gratia amount announced for deceased, seriously injured and minor injured, and amount that has been disbursed. It also asked whether judicial enquiry has been ordered earlier in similar incident and if they submitted reports, what action the Government took.
It has also been asked if action was taken on earlier occasions why that could not avert this present incident. The Commission also told in the notice that if both CS and DGP want to clarify on any other point not mentioned in the notice, they may submit.
The Commission asked its Additional DG Ashok Kumar Jain, posted in the MPHRC to investigate the incident thoroughly and submit a report.
The points that need to be covered by Addl DG Jain are -- under what circumstances the incident took place and who police and administrative officials were responsible for it. If the devotees were cane-charged, why it was done and under which circumstances and whether it was necessary at that point of timeIJ
Assessing the crowd of devotees, how many police and administrative officials were deployed at the site and whether they reached there or not. If not, where were they on the day of incident and a day earlierIJ Or if they were present at the site, what action they took during the incidentIJ
What measures the administration and police took to manage such a huge crowd. What action was taken against the erring police employees and officials.
ADGP has been given 15 days to submit his enquiry report before the commission. Observing the seriousness of the incidence the case would be heard by the two member bench of the Commission.