Self-styled godman Suraj Pal Singh, also known as 'Bhole Baba,' broke his silence on Saturday regarding the Hathras stampede that claimed 121 lives, mostly women and children.
In a video statement, Singh, who also goes by the name Narayan Sakar Hari, expressed his grief and offered condolences for the tragedy during a 'Satsang' in Fulari village, Hathras district.
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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 believe those responsible for the chaos will not be spared. Through my lawyer AP Singh, I have urged the committee members to support the bereaved families and the injured and assist them throughout their lives,' Bhole Baba said.
According to the police FIR, approximately 250,000 people gathered despite permission being granted for only 80,000.
Meanwhile, Devprakash Madhukar, identified as the main accused in the Hathras case, surrendered before the Special Investigation Team (SIT), Special Task Force (STF), and Uttar Pradesh police, as confirmed by his advocate AP Singh in a video statement on Friday.
Advocate AP Singh stated, 'Dev Prakash Madhukar, named in the Hathras case FIR as the main organizer, has surrendered to the SIT, STF, and Police. We have handed him over for thorough investigation. His health, being a heart patient, must be taken care of, ensuring no harm befalls him.'
'We pledged not to seek anticipatory bail or approach any court, as our intent was clear—to surrender Madhukar, cooperate with police interrogation, and engage in the inquiry,' the lawyer added.
However, no official update has been received from the police yet.
Earlier, Congress leader Rahul Gandhi met with the families of the victims in Hathras. En route, he also visited Aligarh to meet with families affected by the tragedy.
Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath announced financial aid of Rs 2 lakh for families of deceased victims and Rs 50,000 for the injured.
A three-member Judicial Inquiry Commission, chaired by Justice (retd) Brijesh Kumar Srivastava, has been formed to ensure a comprehensive and transparent investigation into the incident.
The Commission will probe the stampede over the next two months and submit its findings to the State Government.
According to initial findings, the stampede occurred when devotees rushed to seek blessings and collect soil near the preacher's feet. Security personnel intervened, leading to pushing and shoving among the crowd, resulting in several people falling and chaos ensuing.