Nuh: The 27-year-old stuntman who died after being buried alive in a bizarre “samadhi” show in Nuh’s Khori village on Monday was allegedly forced to remain underground for nearly three days because the organiser refused to pull him out after collecting just Rs 3,000 in donations, hoping a longer spectacle would draw bigger crowds and higher collections.By the time alarmed villagers sensed something was wrong and dug him out themselves, Deepak was dead. His family and villagers alleged the organiser kept delaying the finale despite knowing Deepak had already crossed the “safe limit”. The organiser was caught by villagers and handed over to police after the body was recovered. However, he was allowed to go after being detained briefly for questioning as cops waited for the autopsy report.The allegations by Deepak’s family have cast a spotlight on the informal world of travelling stunt troupes, where performers survive on donations collected at village fairs and often push their bodies to dangerous extremes for meagre earnings. According to an estimate, such groups usually earn Rs 15,000-20,000 for each performance, which can last up to a week.Deepak, a resident of Gaunchi village in Faridabad, was part of a three-to-four-member troupe from the Nat community that travelled from village to village, putting up temporary tents after seeking permission from local leaders or residents. The troupe’s income depended almost entirely on voluntary contributions from spectators, with longer performances often translating into larger collections.The burial act was the finale of an endurance show that had already taken a heavy toll on Deepak. For nearly eight days before entering the pit, he remained perched on a bicycle without getting off, eating, drinking, sleeping and relieving himself with the help of fellow performers as crowds gathered to watch. The feat was designed to build anticipation before the final “samadhi” act.“My brother had already spent nearly eight days on the cycle. His body was exhausted even before he entered the pit, but that’s how these shows work. The more difficult the act, the bigger the crowd,” said his elder brother, Manish Kumar (32), who performed similar stunts before quitting the profession over a decade ago.Other members of the troupe also performed high-risk acts such as smashing tubelights on their bodies, piercing themselves with sharp weapons and allowing motorcycles or tractors to pass over their chests to attract spectators.The final act involved Deepak entering the pit with his bicycle before it was covered with a wooden plank and layers of soil.Those familiar with the practice said survival depends on years of training, exceptional breath control and meticulous preparation. Small holes are made in the sack and narrow air passages are created through the soil to allow limited airflow. Even then, performers generally stay underground only for a few hours and, at most, around 24 hours because the risk of suffocation rises sharply with time.“There is no science behind it. Even with precautions, staying buried for so long is extremely dangerous,” Manish said.According to the family, Deepak entered the pit on Saturday and was expected to be brought out by Sunday evening. But the organiser — whose identity was not immediately known — allegedly postponed the finale after collections remained poor.“He thought keeping my brother underground longer would attract more people and more money. They had collected only Rs 3,000, so he refused to bring him out,” Manish alleged.As hours turned into days, villagers began suspecting something was wrong. When the troupe leader still did not end the act on Monday, residents dug open the pit themselves and found Deepak unresponsive.“He must have struggled inside. He must have cried for help. But nobody brought him out,” Manish said.Khori sarpanch Suresh Prajapati insisted the gram panchayat had not granted any permission for the event. “No permission was given by the panchayat, nor was the administration informed. I learnt about it only after police informed me,” he claimed.However, several villagers claimed troupe members had gone door to door before pitching their tent and sought local consent for the show.Nuh SP Arpit Jain said police were examining all aspects of the case. “We are probing whether this was an accidental death during a stunt or whether any criminal liability is involved. Appropriate legal action will be taken against those found responsible,” he added.
