The Yogi Adityanath government in Uttar Pradesh has ordered the suspension of six officials, including the Sub Divisional Magistrate (SDM), Circle Officer (CO), and Tehsildar, in connection with the Hathras stampede that resulted in the death of 121 people.
This decision follows the recommendations of a Special Investigation Team (SIT) report submitted to the state government. The officials suspended include the SDM of Sikandrarao, the Circle Officer of Sikandrarao, the Station Officer of Sikandrarao, the Tehsildar of Sikandrarao, and the Chowki Incharges of Kachora and Pora.
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Special Investigation Team
The SIT, comprising the ADG Zone Agra and the Divisional Commissioner of Aligarh, establish immediately after the incident, which occurred during a Satsang on July 2 in Sikandrarao, Hathras district. The team however inspected the incident site on July 2, 3, and 5, gathering statements from 125 individuals, including administrative and police officials, the general public, and eyewitnesses. They also reviewed news articles, on-site videography, photographs, and video clippings related to the incident.
The preliminary investigation indicated that the event organizers were primarily responsible for the accident based on eyewitness accounts and other evidence. The SIT has not ruled out the possibility of a major conspiracy behind the accident and has called for a thorough investigation.
Meanwhile, the investigation committee found the program organizers and tehsil-level police and administration guilty of negligence. The local SDM was found to have granted permission for the event without inspecting the venue or informing senior officials. The suspended officials failed to take the event seriously and did not report it to higher authorities.
The organizers obtained permission for the event by concealing facts and did not comply with the conditions set by the local administration. They failed to make adequate arrangements for the large crowd they had invited, leading to chaos. Members of the organizing committee misbehaved with the police and attempted to prevent them from inspecting the venue. There were no security arrangements, barricading, or passage provisions for the large crowd, and members of the organizing committee fled the scene when the accident occurred.
