BHOPAL: This is a shocker from the tragedy, if eye-witnesses are to be believed. Villagers and survivors claimed policemen dumped bodies of pilgrims into the river to water down the death toll.
The cops even turned tragedy vultures and stole money and valuables from the bodies before tossing them off the bridge, they alleged.
"I was there at the bridge during the stampede and I have seen policemen dumping over two dozen pilgrims, some of them alive, into the river," said Geeta Mishra, 55, a resident of Bhind.
Another survivor, Asish, 15, a resident of Damoh, told media that policemen pushed him off the bridge when he went to claim the body of his 5-year-old brother, who was killed in the stampede. He suffered critical injuries after the 20-foot fall.
"I fell on my knees and begged the cops to allow me to take my brother's body home. But they pushed me off the bridge, saying that I too should die," he said. There were several other witnesses who had similar stories.
