Two women members of Bahujan Samaj Party died while above two dozen injured in a stampede that erupted during the massive rally being addressed by BSP chief Mayawati at the Kanshi Ram Smarak Maidan in Alambagh on Sunday noon.
“Some of the rally goers were coming down the stairs at one of the two gates while other entry of rally goers form other side was stopped. In the process they lost the balance and the woman identified as Shanti Devi (68) of Bilhor Kanpur fell down on the ground. The mob which was behind her kept moving forward and in the process a number of people stumbled after hitting her and later fell one after one piling on several of the participants,” Circle Officer Alambagh Amita Singh infirmed.
She said the police had no role in regulating the mob. “The volunteers of BSP were manning the mob. Probably some of the volunteers stopped the movement from one of the gates and this crowded the area through which the mob was coming out of the rally ground,” she explained.
She further added that it was not stampede. “It took place in a small area only and for moments. The mob was controlled easily and the victims were rushed to hospital where Shanti Devi and another unidentified woman succumbed to the injuries. The injured were given treatment and were discharged later,” she said while adding that the incident took place minutes before BSP leader Mayawati was to conclude her speech.
There were reports that the mishap took place when some rally goers cling to a tractor trolley. “Shanti tried to get a hold at the trolley unsuccessfully and fell down. People who were behind her were also in hurry to climb at the trolley and they over looked that the victim had fell down. A number of people piled up on her and another woman and they suffered serious injuries,’ a rally- goer told to newsmen. He said the seriously injured women were taken to lok Bandhu Hospital where they breathed their last. Also there were rumours that a live electric have been snapped and it triggered the stampede as the participants felt scared due to this. The police discredited these reports.
Party’s state unit chief Ram Achal Rajbhar, however, said the women died due to humidity and heat. The BSP workers had gathered in large numbers at the ground on party founder Kanshi Ram’s 10th death anniversary. In 2002, at least 12 party workers were killed and 22 injured at the Charbagh Railway station after a BSP rally in lucknow.