Madhya Pradesh: CBI begins probe in Ratangarh temple stampede

Datia (MP): A CBI team has reached Datia to begin investigation into the Ratangarh temple stampede in October which claimed 115 lives. The three-member CBI team, led by Deputy Superintendent of Police AS Negi, reached Datia on Sunday and collected a copy of the FIR and other details from the police station. [caption id=“attachment_1261689” align=“alignleft” width=“380”]  115 people were killed and over 100 injured in the stampede. PTI[/caption] Madhya Pradesh High Court had on 12 November ordered a CBI probe into the stampede in response to a Public Interest Litigation which demanded an inquiry by the central agency. Several officials, including the then Collector Sanket Bhondwe, were suspended following the tragedy. However, Bhondwe’s suspension was revoked as the state government failed to send a confirmation of the charge sheet against him. 115 people were killed and over 100 injured in the stampede near the Ratangarh temple on 13 October during Navratri festivities, which was triggered by rumours that the bridge over Sindh river the devotees were crossing was about to collapse. Lakhs of devotees had converged at Ratangarh, 60 km from the district headquarters and around 320 km from state capital Bhopal, to offer prayers at the Durga temple. PTI