Statement issued by Bhole Baba, appointed AP Singh as his lawyer in the letter

After the stampede that claimed the lives of 121 of his devotees, Bhole Baba, self-styled godman Narayan Sakar Hari, on Wednesday issued a statement saying that the chaos was triggered after he left the 'satsang' venue in Uttar Pradesh's Hathras. The godman also blamed 'anti-social elements' for the stampede.

In an official statement issued by Bhole Baba, he expressed his deepest condolences to the families of those killed in the stampede, while also wishing a speedy recovery to the injured.

His letter reads, “I/we have authorised Dr AP Singh Ji, Senior Advocate, Supreme Court to take further legal action regarding the seal made by some anti-social elements after the Samagam/Satsang when I left for the Samagam at Village Phulari, Sikandrarao, Hathras, UP on 02-07-2024.”

'Very crowded place'

According to preliminary police reports, around 2,50,000 devotees had gathered at the 'Satsang' venue, despite permission for only 80,000 people.

Doctors at the district hospital who treated many of the victims said most of the deaths were due to suffocation.