UP Cops Made Us Declare Stampede Death as Heart Attack, Claim Kumbh Victim Kin
The police have denied the allegations, saying that Kamta Prasad had a natural death near the Mahanirvani Akhara.
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The family of Kamta Prasad Baghel, a resident of Gwalior, Madhya Pradesh, has alleged that Uttar Pradesh police coerced them into signing a document stating he died of a heart attack, despite his death occurring during a stampede at the Mahakumbh in Prayagraj.
"My brother died in the Mahakumbh stampede, but the police forced us to sign a paper claiming he died of a heart attack," a family member told The Quint Hindi.
Police Dismiss Allegations, Call Them Compensation-Driven
The police have denied any wrongdoing, asserting that Kamta Prasad’s death occurred naturally near the Mahanirvani Akhara, not in the stampede.
"The family is after the ₹25 lakh compensation. His death was not caused by the stampede but by a heart attack near the Mahanirvani Akhara," a police official stated.
Kamta Prasad had travelled to Prayagraj for the Mahakumbh to take a holy dip in the Ganges. He passed away on 29 January, the same day a stampede at Sangam and Jhunsi claimed at least 30 lives, according to official figures.
His family insists he was among the victims of the stampede. However, they claim the police pressured them into signing a statement declaring his death was due to a heart attack, possibly to suppress the true casualty count.
"This is UP, Not MP. Sign the Paper!"
Kamta Prasad left for the Mahakumbh on 27 January with five others, two days before Mauni Amavasya. They bathed in the river Ganga on 28 January and planned to perform the Amrit Snan on 29 January.
His cousin, Mansingh Baghel, who was with him, recounted the events to The Quint Hindi, claiming Kamta Prasad was caught in the stampede near the Sangam.
"He was a bit heavy. We managed to move aside, but he was trapped in the crowd and crushed. When the rush subsided, we carried him 2–2.5 km to the Mahanirvani Akhara. His condition was critical. We tried massaging him, and a doctor present at the Akhara attempted to help, but before any medical intervention could take effect, he had already passed away. The police then arrived and took his body to the station."
According to Mansingh, the police later pressured them to sign a document stating Kamta Prasad died of a heart attack.
Mansingh claims the police themselves wrote the statement and forced him to sign it under the threat that the body would not be returned otherwise.
"They told me, 'This is the UP government, not the MP government.' I had no choice but to sign."
Family Insists on Post-Mortem Despite Police Pressure
"Father Was the Sole Breadwinner"
Kamta Prasad, 50, ran an electronics shop and was the sole earning member of his family. He is survived by his wife, three daughters, and a son.
Speaking to The Quint Hindi, his eldest daughter, Rajni Pal, said,
"Papa was the only one earning in our family. Now, we have no one. I don’t know how we will survive. Just five months ago, we spent ₹10 lakh on my sister’s wedding, and that debt remains unpaid. My younger brother is still studying. We sisters will try to support our mother, but she hasn’t eaten or drunk anything in the past five days since Papa passed away. She has been unconscious most of the time."
Family Insists on Post-Mortem Despite Police Pressure
Despite police insistence, Mansingh demanded a post-mortem. As of the time this report was published, the family had not yet received the post-mortem report.
When questioned about the allegations, Bhaskar Mishra, the police officer in charge of the Akhara (Sector 18), denied any wrongdoing. He asserted that Kamta Prasad died inside the Mahanirvani Akhara, 2–2.5 km away from the stampede site.
"He was part of a group of 11–12 people staying at the Akhara. Around 3:30 AM on 29 January, he suffered a heart attack there. A doctor present tried CPR, but he could not be saved. We received information at 4:30 AM and took the necessary action. Now they are trying to link his death to the stampede," Mishra claimed.
Dismissing the family's allegations, he added, "Why would I force them to write that he died of a heart attack? They submitted an application, and I acted accordingly."
"What would the police do with a dead body? We conduct 4–5 post-mortems daily. They are simply after ₹25 lakh," he alleged.
Mishra further stated that he was informed of the death by Mahant Yamuna Puri Maharaj, the secretary of Mahanirvani Akhara. However, when The Quint Hindi contacted the Mahant, he presented a different version of events.
"They were not staying at the Akhara; they were passing by on the road nearby. A doctor staying at our Akhara attempted CPR. The death was natural, not caused by a stampede. The Sangam is 2–2.5 km away from here. I did not see the body, but it is possible the family is making these claims for financial compensation," he said.
Lingering Questions Over Cause of Death
With the family and police presenting conflicting narratives, the cause of Kamta Prasad’s death remains unclear. If the family’s claims are accurate, this raises serious concerns about the handling of casualties at large religious gatherings and the potential suppression of stampede-related deaths.
As of now, the post-mortem report remains awaited, and the truth behind Kamta Prasad’s tragic demise is yet to be officially confirmed.
(Translated from Hindi by Syed Faheem Ahmed)