Hathras Stampede: Bhole baba, organizer, faced sexual assault cases.

The incident that took place in Hathras involved a frenzied rush to collect dust under the feet of a godman, resulting in a deadly crush where men, women, and children were trampled. A viral video shows the godman leaving the venue in his car while hundreds of devotees run behind to gather the dust as a token of blessings. The godman, Suraj Pal, also known as Bhole Baba, has a controversial history with a series of legal troubles, including allegations of sexual assault.

Despite facing multiple cases in different jurisdictions, he still holds a considerable following, attracting people with promises of spiritual enlightenment and blessings. Suraj Pal, originally from Bahadur Nagar, Kasganj, had a previous career in the police department before facing legal issues in 1997 related to allegations of sexual assault, which resulted in a prison sentence. After his release, he rebranded himself as ‘Saakar Vishwa Hari Baba’ and started attracting devotees to his ashram in his ancestral village.