Ashram stampede case: Summons issued to three accused in Uttar Pradesh

A local court here has issued summons to three accused in the Mangarh Bhakti Ashram stampede case in which 63 people were killed in March.

Additional chief judicial magistrate Arvind Kumar Upadhyaya yesterday asked the manager, secretary and store manager of Bhakti Ashram of Kripaluji Maharaj to appear before the court on October 13.

In the stampede, 63 people were killed and 29 others were injured during a community feast organised on the occasion of death anniversary of Kripaluji Maharaj's wife Padmawati at Mangarh in Kunda area on March 4.

The then in-charge of Mangarh police outpost DS Tiwari lodged an FIR against ashram's manager Hrinayamay Chatterjee, secretary Amit Kumar and store manger Shiv Kumar after which they were arrested and later released on bail.

The investigating officer had filed a chargesheet in the case in June, court sources said.