3,200-page chargesheet was filed in court Tuesday against 11 accused under sections including culpable homicide. 'Bhole Baba' yet to be questioned, it is learnt.
Surajpal Jatav, aka ‘Bhole Baba’, is the self-styled godman whose religious congregation in Uttar Pradesh’s Hathras ended in a stampede claiming 123 lives earlier this month.
SIT, which hasn't ruled out conspiracy, hasn't blamed Bhole Baba in its report. BSP's Mayawati says there's 'an attempt to give him clean chit'. Suspended officials include Sikandrarao SDM.
The godman's sevaks such as Devprakash Madhukar — main accused in Hathras stampede — raised money for him. Police are now looking into Madhukar's 'political links'.
Of the 121 people who died in the stampede at Bhole Baba's satsang, 112 were women. Men in Hathras are now blaming women for being followers of the godman & going to such events.
While police maintain they are searching for Bhole Baba, the godman made his 1st public statement since tragedy Saturday, saying he was 'confident those behind it will not be spared'.
While organisers violated conditions for grant of permission, UP Police & govt officials seemingly failed to manage satsang event. Acting DGP says ‘accountability will be fixed’.
In tactical terms, the shirtless protest was worse than a self-goal. Suddenly, the fiascos of the AI Summit were forgotten, and the Youth Congress’s disruption became the issue.
IAF is fine with accepting the aircraft with 'must-haves', even if some other steps remain pending, which may take at least another year, it is learnt.
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