Cops probe Hathras event organiser’s link to parties

Animesh Singh

New Delhi, July 6

Dev Prakash Madhukar, the prime accused in the Hathras stampede incident that claimed 121 lives, was remanded in 14-day judicial custody by an Uttar Pradesh court on Saturday after being arrested last night even as the district police said he had been contacted by some political parties recently. Madhukar, who was the main organiser of the congregation, had been on the run since July 2, and was arrested from Delhi late on Friday. Madhukar was named as the prime suspect in the FIR filed after the incident. He had obtained permission for the satsang from the local sub-divisional magistrate.

Madhukar was contacted by some political parties recently, Hathras SP Nipun Agarwal said on Saturday. “His financial transactions, money trails are being looked into, and call detail records also being checked,” Agarwal added.

“He will be questioned in detail about his links with self-styled godman Bhole Baba, and information about other core members of the organising committee will also be gathered,” he further said.

The police had announced a reward of Rs 1 lakh for Madhukar’s arrest. Meanwhile, four days after the stampede at the religious congregation, Bhole Baba, in whose “satsang” the devotees had gathered, in a video message said he was “deeply saddened” by the tragedy.

Bhole Baba, who has been in hiding ever since the incident, urged people to have faith in the administration and also said through his lawyer, he had asked his committee members to take care of the families of the deceased. “May God give us the strength to bear this pain. Please keep faith in the government and the administration,” he said in a statement.