Lucknow, July 3 (IANS) The noose has started tightening around godman Bhole Baba, aka Narayan Saakar Hari, whose religious discourse in UP’s Hathras district on Tuesday culminated in a devastating stampede that left at least 121 dead and a dozen others injured.

Though Bhole Baba’s name does not figure in the initial FIR filed in connection with the incident, the police have cordoned off his ashram in Mainpuri, following reports that the godman could be hiding in his palatial abode.

“We have found the location of his mobile phone to be near his ashram and we are keeping a close watch,” said a senior police official.

Meanwhile, UP Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath who visited Hathras on Wednesday has announced a judicial probe into the stampede incident.

He interacted with the injured persons in the hospital and took first-hand information about the circumstances leading to the tragedy.

“I had a conversation with several eyewitnesses and they informed me that the incident took place after the programme was over when the preacher of the Satsang was coming down from the stage. Suddenly several women started going towards him to touch him and the sevadars (volunteers) stopped them, due to which this accident happened. The administration was not allowed to enter inside by the sevadars,” the Chief Minister said at a press conference.

A video clip has also gone viral on social media which shows the godman leaving the venue in his car and hundreds of devotees running behind his car to gather the dust as a token of blessings.

The report submitted by the Sub-Divisional Magistrate claims that the behaviour of the godman’s sevadars was responsible for the incident, as they tried to push back the devotees which led to the stampede.

The report also says that the number of devotees who arrived at the discourse was three times more than the number for which permission had been sought.

In a related development, a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) plea has been filed before the Allahabad High Court seeking a Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) inquiry into the Hathras stampede incident. The event was organised by self-styled godman, Bhole Baba, at Fulrai village under the Sikandrarau police station area of Hathras district.

The PIL plea, moved by advocate Gaurav Dwivedi, claims that the district authorities were “totally responsible” for its “negligent” act due to which the stampede occurred and that this type of inappropriate law and order situation in the state would lead to people losing faith in the government. It further states that the district authorities have mechanisms in place to prevent and control any unwarranted situations, and the state government is investing substantial public funds in new techniques for better administration but still such an incident occurred.

Further, the petitioner has submitted that he is very concerned about the safety of devotees who would be attending Maha Kumbh, the world’s largest religious gathering, which is scheduled to take place in Prayagraj in 2025.

–IANS

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Mumbai, July 3 (IANS) Maharashtra Chief Minister Eknath Shinde said on Wednesday that he has directed the district collectors to take strong action against officials found demanding money from women submitting applications seeking benefits under the Mukhyamantri Ladli Bahin Yojana.

He said the government would not tolerate such malpractices and the staff will face disciplinary action and suspension as it is committed to the implementation of the scheme to help eligible women across the state. These women will get Rs 1,500 per month which comes to Rs 18,000 annually.

Shinde’s warning came in the wake of complaints by legislators, especially from the opposition.

‘’I have already directed the district collectors that the scheme should be implemented in a hassle-free manner. The administration should take due steps for its effective implementation and the women should not face any inconvenience and harassment. The government will take stern action against the staff for negligence and demanding money,’’ he said.

The issue also came up for discussion in the Assembly when excise minister Shambhuraj Desai said that the CM has already announced that the government will take stern action against those demanding money from the women getting enrolled under the scheme. He told the House that in one case an official has already been suspended.

The CM’s announcement came after the government’s announcement to extend the deadline for submission of applications by eligible women under the Mukhyamantri Ladli Bahin Yojana upto August 31 following a large number of women turning up in district offices. The government has announced an increase in the age limit for eligible women to 65 years from 60 years.

–IANS

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Shillong, July 3 (IANS) The two-week-long India-Mongolia joint military exercise ‘Nomadic Elephant’ commenced on Wednesday in Meghalaya’s Umroi to boost the military capabilities of both sides to undertake counter-insurgency operations in a sub-conventional scenario under the United Nations mandate.

Defence spokesman Lt Col Mahendra Rawat said that in the 16th edition of the joint military exercise, the 45-member Indian contingent is being represented by a Sikkim Scouts Battalion along with personnel from other services.

The Mongolian contingent is being represented by personnel from the 150 Quick Reaction Force Battalion of the Mongolian Army.

‘Nomadic Elephant’, which is being held at the Foreign Training Node in Umroi, is an annual training event conducted alternatively in India and Mongolia. The last edition was conducted in Mongolia in July 2023.

The opening ceremony of the joint exercise was attended by the Mongolian Ambassador to India, Dambajavyn Ganbold, and Major General Prasanna Joshi, General Officer Commanding, 51 Sub Area of the Indian Army.

The defence PRO said the joint exercise aims to enhance the military capabilities of both sides to undertake counter-insurgency operations in a sub-conventional scenario under Chapter VII of the United Nations Mandate.

The joint exercise, which will conclude on July 16, is focused on operations in the semi-urban and mountainous terrains.

According to Lt Col Rawat, tactical drills during the exercise include response to terrorist action, the establishment of a joint command post, an intelligence and surveillance centre, securing of a helipad/ landing site, small team insertion and extraction, special heliborne operations, cordon and search operations, besides employment of drones and counter-drone systems, among others.

Major General Gyanbyamba Sunrev, Chief of General Staff of the Armed Forces of Mongolia, is scheduled to attend the closing ceremony on July 16 along with Lieutenant General Zubin A Minwalla, General Officer Commanding, 33 Corps of the Indian Army.

‘Nomadic Elephant’ aims to enable both sides to share their best practices in tactics, techniques, and procedures for conducting joint operations.

The exercise would also facilitate developing interoperability, bonhomie and camaraderie between the two armies which would enhance the level of defence cooperation, further augmenting the bilateral relations between the two friendly nations, the defence spokesman added.

–IANS

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Bengaluru, July 3 (IANS) Reacting to the BJP’s resignation demand over his alleged involvement in the irregularities in the tribal welfare Board and Mysuru Urban Development Authority (MUDA), Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah maintained on Wednesday that he would not quit as he had no role in it.

Speaking to reporters in Bengaluru on Wednesday, CM Siddaramaiah stated, “Did the BJP government hand over even one case to the CBI when we demanded it? Why are they seeking CBI investigation in every case? Why should we hand over the investigation to the CBI?”

CM Siddaramaiah added, “The earlier BJP government framed the rules that those who lost land should be compensated with 50 per cent of sites. The BJP is now claiming that the rule has been misused. To find out whether the provision has been misused or not, we are conducting an enquiry.”

“Second, all sites that were allotted by the MUDA have been kept under suspension, so where is the loss to the government?” CM Siddaramaiah asked.

“The officers who distributed these sites got transferred over time and an enquiry is being conducted through senior IAS officers. After getting the report we will initiate action,” CM Siddaramaiah said.

“Why should I resign and what is my role in those scams? Will Leader of Opposition, R Ashoka resign as soon as charges are levelled against him? He had secured bail following charges in the Akrama-Sakrama Scheme and he had also appealed for quashing the matter against him. Will he resign from his post in this backdrop?” CM Siddaramaiah stated.

The CM added that the tribal welfare Board case had been handed over to the Special Investigation Team (SIT) and the Karnataka government had taken the resignation of Minister B Nagendra even though his name was not mentioned in the suicide note of an officer of the Board alleging political pressure.

“The CBI and ED are looking into matters connected with banking in the tribal welfare Board scam. What further action needs to be taken? The BJP is protesting without any issue.

“Without any SIT report against Minister for Medical Education Sharan Prakash Patil and tribal welfare Board Chairman, Basavaraja Daddal, how can action be initiated against them,” he questioned.

Karnataka BJP leaders, including state President BY Vijayendra and R Ashoka, were detained by Karnataka Police on Wednesday morning while preparing to march to the CM’s residence.

–IANS

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Panaji, July 3 (IANS) South Goa Congress Member of Parliament Capt Viriato Fernandes, on Wednesday, met Union Minister for Road Transport & Highway Nitin Gadkari in New Delhi and sought his intervention to protect Bhoma village from getting destroyed due to the proposed expansion of NH 4A.

Bhoma village has three temples and other religious structures.

With the support of all Opposition parties in Goa, hundreds of people from village Bhoma of Priol constituency are up in arms against the expansion of the national highway to save the temples and houses.

People of Bhoma are against the expansion of National Highway 4A, claiming that many houses will be demolished, along with temples, if the project becomes a reality.

“Today met Nitin Gadkari and apprised him of the issues faced by villagers with regard to highway expansion work at Bhoma village and other locations. Also highlighted the anxiety and concern of farmers with respect to the construction of the proposed Borim bridge that will destroy the ‘Khazans’ and agricultural land,” Fernades said.

“Discussed the possible solutions to the above issues and requested for taking the main stakeholders, farmers and villagers into confidence and addressing their concern,” he said further.

Earlier, villagers of Bhoma in North Goa had written a letter to President Droupadi Murmu seeking her intervention to save their village.

For the last one year, villagers of Bhoma have protested more than 10 times and addressed many meetings, to which opposition political parties, including Congress, Goa Forward and the Revolutionary Goans Party have supported.

They have demanded that the Public Works Department not destroy their village, instead should think of constructing a bypass.

According to locals of Bhoma village, there are three temples and two other religious structures, which will be affected if the expansion of the national highway is done.

–IANS

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