A’satsang’ event in Uttar Pradesh, where self-styled godman Suraj Pal—known to his devotees as Bhole Baba—spoke, turned into a scene of mayhem and tragedy when 121 people were killed in a stampede. A mad dash to gather dust beneath the godman’s feet is said to have started the Hathras incident, which resulted in a fatal crush that crushed men, women, and children underfoot.
In a video that has gone viral on social media, hundreds of worshippers can be seen running behind the godman’s car as he leaves the venue, gathering dust as a blessing.
Suraj Pal, also known as Bhole Baba, has a history of legal issues, including accusations of sexual assault, and is well-known for his contentious “satsangs.” Even with so many cases brought against him in different courts in Agra, Etawah, Kasganj, Farrukhabad, and Rajasthan, he still has a sizable following attracted by his assurances of blessings and spiritual enlightenment.
Suraj Pal, who was born in Bahadur Nagar, Kasganj, briefly worked for the police before running into legal issues in 1997 over accusations of sexual assault. As a result, he was sentenced to prison. After being freed, he assumed the name “Saakar Vishwa Hari Baba” and began drawing followers to his ashram in his hometown.
