BSP chief Mayawati has raised serious concerns regarding the omission of Surajpal, known as ‘Bhole Baba,’ from the extensive chargesheet related to the devastating Hathras stampede incident that occurred on July 2, resulting in 121 fatalities. This statement was made on October 3, 2024, following the submission of the 3,200-page chargesheet to a court earlier in the week.
Mayawati highlighted that Surajpal’s absence from the list of 11 accused indicates a troubling level of support from the state government. Notably, he was not named in the FIR, and the only individual identified among the accused was Devprakash Madhukar, who took a leading role in organizing the congregation.
Following the incident, police apprehended 11 suspects, including Madhukar, with one of them, Manju Yadav, now out on bail granted by the Allahabad High Court.
Criticizing the situation, Mayawati stated, “The absence of Surajpal’s name from the accused list in this tragic incident, which primarily claimed the lives of women and children, reflects a disregard for public safety. It underscores the influence he holds with the state government, which is unacceptable.”
She also questioned the state government’s response to related incidents, raising doubts about its effectiveness in preventing future tragedies. The disparity in the reported pages of the chargesheet—Mayawati stating it was 2,300 pages while the defense attorney confirmed it was 3,200 pages—further complicates the narrative.
Additionally, Mayawati has criticized the state government, suggesting that the Special Investigation Team’s (SIT) findings on the Hathras stampede exhibit political bias.
The developments surrounding this case continue to raise significant public concern and scrutiny over governance and accountability in Uttar Pradesh.
