The Uttar Pradesh government on Tuesday suspended six officials, including Sikandra Rao Sub Divisional Magistrate (SDM), and Circle Officer (CO), after the SIT formed to probe the Hathras stampede case presented its 300-page report, Jagran.com reported. The report pointed out that the officials failed to discharge their duties, which led to the mishap claiming over 121 lives.  

Sikandra Rao SDM, tahsildar, CO, SHO and two police post chiefs were suspended by the state government for not taking the religious congregation event seriously. The probe divulged that the SDM permitted the event without inspecting the site. 

The SIT, in its report submitted to the government, cited the overcrowding as the reason for the stampede in UP's Hathras. The report said that the committee organising the 'Satsang' was responsible for calling more people than the permitted number, news agency ANI reported. Besides, they had not made adequate arrangements and the spot was not inspected before organising the congregation, the report added.

Over 2 lakh people had attended the Satsang, while the authorities had requested permission for only 80,000 attendees.

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As per India Today, the report comprises statements from 119 individuals, including those from Hathras District Magistrate Ashish Kumar, Superintendent of Police Nipun Agarwal, Sub Divisional Magistrate, and various police officials present on duty during the July 2 stampede. Additionally, statements from affected families were also incorporated into the SIT report.

Earlier, the Judicial Commission, set up by the Uttar Pradesh government, recorded the statements of several eyewitnesses.

On July 6, a case was registered against self-proclaimed godman Bhole Baba alias Suraj Pal Singh. He was not named in the first FIR filed in the case. However, Bhole Baba’s lawyer claimed some unidentified miscreants sprayed poisonous gas during the event, which led to the stampede. He claimed the group of conspirators fled the venue after triggering the chaos.

Dev Prakash Madhukar, the main suspect in the July 2 Hathras stampede, was nabbed on July 5.

As many as 121 people were killed in UP’s Hathras last week during a religious event dedicated to preacher Bhole Baba. The incident reportedly occurred as supporters of Bhole Baba hurried to collect mud from the path he had traversed.

After being silent for days, Bhole Baba on Saturday expressed his anguish over the deaths at his event, adding that the people who created chaos will not be spared.

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"I am deeply saddened by the incident of July 2. May God give us the strength to bear this pain. Please keep faith in the government and the administration. I have faith that those who created the chaos will not be spared. Through my lawyer AP Singh, I have requested the members of the committee to stand with the bereaved families and the injured and help them throughout their lives," he said.