Hathras Report Cites Mismanagement, Says Cops Didn't Take Event Seriously
NDTV
Six officials, including the SDM who allowed Bhole Baba's 'satsang' to take place, have been suspended, and nine people, including the main organiser - Devprakash Madhukar - have been arrested.
The district official - a sub divisional magistrate - who permitted 'godman' Bhole Baba's 'prayer meet' in Uttar Pradesh's Hathras, at which a stampede killed 121 people - never inspected the venue, a team investigating the tragedy said in a report submitted to Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath.
The SIT report also said the event organisers and local administration, including the police, were negligent and held them responsible, stating they "failed to make adequate arrangements" for so large a crowd. Neither local officials nor the cops took the event "seriously", the report said.
That the organisers - who have been held "primarily responsible" involved, or hired, individuals without police verification has been held up as an example of that negligence.
