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Journalism of Courage
At least 121 people, including women and children, were killed in a stampede that broke out at a prayer meeting (satsang) organised in Uttar Pradesh’s Hathras by a self-acclaimed godman called Bhole Baba aka Narayan Saakar Hari. A sea of horrifying videos capturing the tragedy swamped social media on Tuesday.
One of the videos showed moments before the stampede. The viral clip begins with the camera focusing on thousands of women and children, some smiling, chanting the baba’s name. The video also shows police personnel deployed near the barricades.
Sharing the video, X user Priya Singh wrote, “Most of the people who fall in the trap of such babas are women. Innocent children and women are seen in the piles of dead bodies. This scene is just before the stampede. Look at the crowd. You can understand how widespread this fraud’s web of illusion is.”
Watch the viral video here:
With over 13,000 views, the video garnered diverse reactions with some slamming the Uttar Pradesh government and others lashing out as self-proclaimed godmen. Reacting to it, a user wrote, “Many policemen are also standing with their hands raised, these men have already surrendered, are they doing their job.” Another user commented, “Reminds me of Aashram web series.”
“No matter how much you explain to these people to stay away from religious fanaticism and hypocrisy, they don’t listen. Skilled in doing mindless things, expert in street fights, but if you give them advice on education, cleanliness, health, they think you are fooling them. What else can happen to them. This is the end result of their foolishness,” a third user reacted.
Ashish Kumar, Hathras district magistrate, said the stampede took place because of “extreme humidity”. “When the satsang was about to end and followers started coming out due to extreme humidity, the incident took place,” Kumar said.
On Wednesday, Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath arrived at Hathras and met those injured in the hospital.
