Investigation into Maha Kumbh Stampede Shifts Toward Conspiracy Theory
New Delhi (The Uttam Hindu): The investigation into the tragic stampede during the Maha Kumbh in Prayagraj has taken a surprising turn with authorities now viewing the incident as a possible conspiracy rather than an accident. Both UP and central government agencies, including the National Investigation Agency (NIA), Anti-Terrorist Squad (ATS), Special Task Force (STF) and Local Intelligence Unit (LIU), are focusing on a group of over 10,000 individuals who have come under suspicion. Many of these individuals are protesters associated with the CAA and NRC movements and their activities during the Maha Kumbh are now under investigation. The agencies are also examining the involvement of non-Hindus, particularly those who posted negative comments about the event on social media or showed a significant interest in it by searching for related content on Google and YouTube. Furthermore, members of the Popular Front of India (PFI), who are currently imprisoned in 18 different jails are being questioned as part of the investigation.
According to an STF officer the Maha Kumbh event was expected to attract 45 crore people, making it a major gathering that intelligence agencies had been monitoring months in advance. Intelligence reports highlighted individuals with criminal backgrounds and those who had been active in large protests against the state government. In response, over 1 lakh people from UP were vetted with the goal of discouraging them from traveling to Prayagraj during the event. Despite these precautions, investigations revealed that some individuals, who had been specifically told not to travel to Prayagraj did so anyway.
The authorities found that 16,000 people from Varanasi and surrounding districts were warned against leaving the city before the Maha Kumbh. However 117 of these individuals were found to have traveled outside Kashi with more than 50 of them reaching Prayagraj. Interestingly not all of them were from the Hindu community and when questioned they provided various explanations for their movements. Similar inquiries are being conducted in other cities where suspicious individuals are being questioned about why they defied restrictions. As the investigation continues authorities are piecing together the movements and motivations behind these individuals seeking to determine whether there was a coordinated effort to disrupt the Maha Kumbh or if the incident was purely accidental. The unfolding inquiry serves as a reminder of the complex and often unexpected factors that can shape large-scale events.
