Hathras stampede: SIT chief says over 90 statements recorded

Hathras (UP): The Uttar Pradesh government's SIT probing the Hathras stampede has recorded 90 statements so far, the panel's chief Anupam Kulshrestha said on Friday.

Kulshrestha, also the Additional Director General of Police (Agra Zone), is leading the three-member Special Investigation Team (SIT) preparing a detailed report on the stampede that claimed 121 lives after a satsang here on July 2.

Speaking exclusively to PTI in Hathras, ADG Kulshrestha said, "Ninety statements recorded so far. A preliminary report has been submitted while work on the detailed report is underway." On the status of police probe, the officer said the ambit of the investigation has been expanded as more evidence have emerged.

"Definitely, the gathered evidence suggests culpability on part of the organisers of the event," she said.

Meanwhile, in Lucknow, Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath has been apprised of the initial SIT report on the stampede.

That report was submitted by the ADG Agra Zone who was among the top officers who visited Hathras to oversee rescue and relief measures after the stampede in Hathras on July 2.

The confidential report contains statements of Hathras District Magistrate Ashish Kumar, Superintendent of Police Nipun Aggarwal, and senior health department officials who tended to the emergency situation arising due to the stampede.