Three officials arrested over ashram stampede
The police swung into action almost a week after 63 people were killed in a stampede at an ashram, arresting three officials of the ashram for alleged lapses.
Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Mayawati on Wedensday announced compensation for the stampede victims after facing flak from opposition parties. Speaking to newsmen here, Mayawati announced a compensation of Rs 2.5 lakh each to the next of kin of the deceased and Rs 75,000 for the seriously injured.
She, however, charged the Congress-led UPA government with trying to derive political mileage from the ashram stampede tragedy in Pratapgarh district. “The Centre had announced the ex-gratia relief of Rs 2 lakh each to the next of the kin of those killed but so far the state has not received anything from it,” she alleged.
Mayawati termed the Centre’s announcement a ploy to achieve publicity. She asked the Congress leaders not to politicise the tragedy and said the Congress leaders, instead of criticising the state government, should focus on development of the people.
Earlier, the Pratapgarh police arrested Hrinmaya Chatterjee, the treasurer of the ashram and his two associates, Amit and Shiv Kumar, for alleged lapses during the “bhandara” (religious feast) which led to the stampede.
The police had earlier lodged an FIR against the organisers of the feast under different sections of the IPC.
