'Focus on Sevadars, Conspiracy Not Ruled Out': Hathras Stampede SIT Chief Says 90 Statements Recorded

The police has not ruled out conspiracy angle in the stampede that killed 121 at a religious congregation in Uttar Pradesh’s Hathras on July 2, Anupam Kulshrestha, chief of the three-member special investigation team (SIT) and Additional Director General of Police (Agra Zone), told CNN-News18 exclusively. The officer added that statements of 90 witnesses, victims and suspects have been recorded, and that they are focussing on ‘sevadars’ (organisers).

On the sidelines of a high-level meeting, Kulshrestha said, “Other than the six arrested accused, many others are being questioned to ascertain the role of others. Those who are culpable will definitely face legal action. The ambit of investigation will widen as we find evidence and accordingly more arrests are likely. More people are being rounded up and the number of arrests is likely to go up.”

The officer added the culpability is on sevadars and therefore our focus is on them. “Conspiracy angle cannot be ruled out. More evidence has emerged out of statements and our investigation is strengthening,” the ADG said.

Among the 121 dead most were women who had gone to attend preacher Surajpal alias Narayan Sakar Hari alias Bhole Baba’s satsang in Hathras’ Fulrai village. Madhukar, ‘mukhya sevadar’ (chief organiser of the satsang), is the only named accused in the First Information Report (FIR), while Surajpal is not mentioned as an accused.

When asked if the police is close to arresting the main accused, the officer said, “We are tracking Madhukar. His location cannot be shared but we are on to it.”

Kulshrestha said the team has submitted the initial investigation report and a detailed report will follow.

CNN-News18 has learned that the confidential report contains statements of Hathras district magistrate Ashish Kumar and senior police and health department officials who dealt with the situation on July 2.

An FIR was lodged the same day 2 under Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita Sections 105 (culpable homicide not amounting to murder), 110 (attempt to commit culpable homicide), 126 (2) (wrongful restraint), 223 (Disobedience to order duly promulgated by the public servant), 238 (causing disappearance of evidence).