Gandhi Maidan stampede: Bihar Home Secretary assures through probe

Bihar's Principal Secretary (Home) Amir Subhani on Saturday said a thorough investigation will be conducted to find out the reason for Friday's stampede at the Gandhi Maidan here, and added that a hearing in this case will take place next Tuesday.

Subhani and Additional Director General of Police (Headquarters) Gupteshwar Pandey have been asked to conduct an inquiry into the stampede.

Subhani said the statements of the magistrate and police personnel deployed on duty will be taken separately.

"We will investigate the reason for the incident and who is responsible for it," he added.

The Additional Director General of Police said, "The investigation has just begun. Let the investigation be complete, then, we will be able to come to any conclusion. The hearing in this case will take place in the Collectorate on Tuesday."

Pandey further said that this is an open inquiry.

"The inquiry committee has not yet seen the CCTV footage. We can't come to any conclusion until the investigation is complete," he added when asked to why no FIRs have been lodged yet in connection with this case.

Meanwhile, Union Food and Consumer Affairs Minister Ram Vilas Paswan visited the Patna Medical College and Hospital (PMCH) here along with his son Chirag to meet the victims.

Chirag described it as a clear case of murder.

"It is a failure of the state government, they have to take the responsibility," he said.

The Lok Janshakti Party (LJP) leader further said the incident should not be politicized.

"But then there are certain facts, which you have to bring it out. Repeatedly one after another such incidents are taking place, somewhere this needs to be stopped," he added.

Thirty-three people lost their lives and several injured in the stampede that took place at the Gandhi Maidan last evening during the Dussehra celebrations.

The district administration has issued 0612-22219810 and 9431800675 helplines for query regarding the stampede tragedy.

The administration has deployed additional police force at the incident site.

All the patients are provided free of cost treatment at the PMCH.

The Union Home Ministry has sought a report from the Bihar Government.