MP govt recommends suspension of Datia collector, officials

Madhya Pradesh government today recommended the State Election Commission to suspend Datia's Collector, Superintendent of Police, Sub Divisional Magistrate, Sub Divisional Officer of Police and entire staff of Sevdha police station, over stampede near Ratangarh temple.
The decision to suspend Collector, SP and other officials was taken by the state government after Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan visited Datia today to review the situation after the tragedy yesterday, official sources said.
The Chief Minister, who visited Datia earlier in the day, reviewed the situation and prima facie found these officials and policemen guilty of a major lapse that led to the stampede which killed nearly 115 people and left over 100 others injured.

The recommendations to suspend Collector Sanket Bhondwe, SP C S Solanki, SDM Mahip Tejaswi and SDOP B N Basave were made to the Election Commission by the state government.
Assembly elections are scheduled to be held in the state next month.
Earlier in the day, Chouhan, after meeting injured persons at a Datia hospital, said that an inquiry would be set up within the next two days to look into the stampede yesterday at the Ratangarh temple near here.

He said that the inquiry report would come in about two months and action on it will be taken within 15 days after its submission.

Chouhan wished to visit the stampede site but he could not go there as he did not get permission for it from the Election Commission.
He said that action would be taken against those who appear responsible for the stampede, after taking permission from the Election Commission.