Hathras stampede: Who is religious preacher Bhole Baba?

Digital Desk: The Uttar Pradesh Police has lodged an FIR against the organizers of the 'satsang' event in Hathras, where a tragic stampede claimed the lives of 121 people. The FIR accuses them of concealing evidence and hosting the event for a crowd of 250,000 people, despite permission being granted for only 80,000 attendees.

Interestingly, the FIR does not name the conductor of the event, spiritual leader Jagat Guru Sakar Vishwa Hari, also known as Bhole Baba.

 

According to the FIR, the organizers allegedly misrepresented the number of attendees during the permission process, failed to cooperate with traffic management, and attempted to conceal evidence post-stampede.

Notably, the FIR clears the police and administration of any wrongdoing, stating they utilized available resources to the best of their abilities.

Bhole Baba, also known as Baba Narayan Hari, is a former policeman who transitioned into a religious preacher. Born Surajpal in Bahadur Nagar, Kasganj district, Uttar Pradesh, he left his police job in the late 1990s to start conducting religious sermons ('satsang'). Over time, he garnered a significant following, particularly in western Uttar Pradesh.

The stampede occurred as devotees rushed after Bhole Baba's vehicle, a phenomenon attributed to overcrowding. People reportedly collect soil from the path he walks and worship it, leading to a chaotic situation where individuals bent down and fell.

Surajpal established a Trust after one of his brothers passed away, appointing a caretaker for his property in Bahadurgarh, where his ashram is situated. His wife accompanies him during the 'satsangs,' but the couple does not have children. Volunteers appointed by Bhole Baba handle the security and arrangements for his sermons in Hathras and other locations.