Hathras stampede: Who is Bhole Baba, ‘guru’ behind satsang, likely to be arrested?

It is one of the deadliest stampedes in India. More than 120 people, including women and children, have died in Uttar Pradesh’s Hathras district. The tragedy occurred at a ‘satsang’ by a self-styled guru in Sikandararao’s Phulrai.

Narayan Sakar Vishwa Hari, also known as Bhole Baba, is likely to be arrested on Tuesday, according to a report on NDTV. But who is he?

Let’s take a closer look:

• Hari hails from Bahadur Nagari village in Kasganj district, about 65 km from Hathras where the stampede occurred.

• The 58-year-old is from a Dalit family. Before he became a preacher, he was a constable with the Uttar Pradesh Police. His was last posted in Agra and reportedly left the police force in the 1990s.

• Hari claims to have previously worked with the Intelligence Bureau, as per NDTV.

• After quitting his job with the UP Police, he adopted the name Bhole Baba. Hari is married but does not have children, reports The Indian Express.

• The self-styled preacher conducts satsangs known as ‘Manav Mangal Milan Sadbhavna Samagam’ along with his wife, who is known as Matashree.

• Hari does not wear saffron clothes. His preferred outfit is a white suit and tie or a kurta-pyjama.

• Hari claims he spends all the money donated to him on devotees.

• He has told devotees that he was of a spiritual bent even when he was working with the intelligence agency.

• He calls himself a disciple of Hari. He is said to have a notable following in western Uttar Pradesh.

• This isn’t the first time Hari has been in trouble with the law. In May 2022, at the height of COVID-19, Hari organised a ‘satsang’ in Uttar Pradesh’s Farrukhabad.

• Though authorities only gave permission for 50 people to attend, over 50,000 people participated in the satsang. The authorities at the time filed an FIR against Hari.

• In the Hathras tragedy, a case has been filed against the organisers. According to the FIR, permission was granted for 80,000 people but more than 2.5 lakh devotees attended the satsang.

• Hari is expected to be arrested in the case. He is believed to be at his ashram, the Ram Kutir Charitable Trust, in Mainpuri. However, some reports say he is absconding.

• Yogi Adityanath expressed condolences to the families of those killed in the stampede and instructed officials to reach the accident site and carry out relief measures. He announced a compensation of Rs 2 lakh ex gratia for the families of the dead and Rs 50,000 each for the injured.

With inputs from agencies