A Public Interest Litigation (PIL) has been filed in the Allahabad High Court seeking a Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) probe and an independent judicial inquiry into the Hathras stampede that occurred on July 2.
More than 116 people died and over 200 were injured in a stampede at a religious event in Hathras district, Uttar Pradesh.
The incident took place during a ‘satsang’ organized by self-styled godman Narayan Sakar Hari in Fulrai village, under the jurisdiction of Sikandrarau police station.
The plea, filed by Advocate Gaurav Dwivedi, alleges that the negligence of district authorities led to the stampede.
“…this type of irresponsible behavior and negligence of police and district administration towards the safety of devotees who are from various states of India, so this type of inappropriate law and order will cause citizens of Uttar Pradesh to lose faith in government instruments as well as the legal system of the state,” the plea states.
The plea emphasizes that the authorities have all the necessary mechanisms to prevent and control any unwarranted situations, and the State government spends significant public funds on new techniques for better administration.
Furthermore, the plea contends that the Chief Minister of Uttar Pradesh periodically reviews law and order through video conferencing. Despite this, the Hathras administration and the responsible officers, who are duty-bound to maintain law and order and ensure the safety of the district’s residents, have failed.
The petitioner has urged the Court to take suo motu cognizance of the incident and has requested a CBI inquiry into the matter, the suspension of certain officials, and an independent judicial inquiry.
