Lucknow: Tasked by Uttar Pradesh Chief
Minister Mayawati to probe the invasion by a swarm of bees in
which she had seen a controversy, a top police official came
out with a report that her composure at the rally had
prevented a possible stampede.
Police, however, registered an FIR against unnamed
persons to find out who had lit the fire in a beehive in the
nearby Ambedkar University campus that led the insects out and
could have created a stampede and chaos.
Deputy Inspector General of Police Rajiv Krishna,
probing into the bee invasion incident, said prima facie it
had been revealed that the bees swarmed Ramabai Ambedkar rally
ground during Mayawati`s address after being disturbed by
smoke.
"Initially, a case under section section 435 (lighting
fire to cause damage) and 285 (causing disturbance in any
public place) has been lodged at Ashiyana police station,"
Krishna told reporters.
He said that the opinion of experts in bee behaviour
had also been taken.
He said it was a serious incident as in case of a bee
attack it could have led to a stampede in which a number of
people could have been killed. Likewise, if something would
have happened to the people on stage then also it could have
led to stampede and death, he said.
But a major incident was averted because of Mayawati`s
composure, he felt.
"The Chief Minister remained calm and composed even
when the bees reached the dais. Any reaction could have
created an adverse situation."
According to him, there was a possibility that the
fire was lit intentionally to disturb the beehive.
The DIG Lucknow is likely to submit his report into
the March 15 incident by tomorrow.
After the incident, BSP alleged that appearance of the
bees at the rally ground was a conspiracy following which the
state government ordered an inquiry.
A preliminary inquiry has indicated that some persons
intentionally lit fire to disturb a nearby beehive in a bid to
disturb the rally, official sources said.
PTI
