India stampede: UP police arrests 6, offers Rs 100,000 bounty on main accused

The police in the Indian state of Uttar Pradeshon Thursday (July 4) arrested sixorganisers of areligious gatheringin Hathras district where astampedebroke out andresulted in the tragic deaths of 121 people.

Aligarh IG Shalabh Mathur said, "Six people including four men and two women were arrested in the incident. They all are members of the organising committee and worked as ‘Sevadars’ for Narayan Sakar Vishwa Hari or ‘Bhole Baba’".

The police have also announced a ₹1 lakh ($1197.69) bounty on the arrest of the main accused, identified as Prakash Madhukar.

Meanwhile, Leader of the Opposition Rahul Gandhi willbe visitingthe site of the incidentand will interact with the victims of theunfortunate accident.

On Wednesday (July 3) Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adithyanath ordered a judicial probe into the incident.

While police filed an FIR against the organisers and the probe is underway, Narayan Sakar Vishwa Hari, (preacher who held a Satsang on July 2) has not been named in the case.

Who is Bhole Baba?

The preacher who is commonly known as'Bhole Baba' is a former UP police staffer who worked with the Local Intelligence Unit (LIU) for 18 years. He took voluntary retirement in 1990 to pursue the path of spirituality.

Today, he is followed by thousands of people across north India, including in states like Uttar Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Haryana, Rajasthan and the capital Delhi.

Bhole Baba is not active on social media but he says his organisational structure is solid at the grassroots level.

He usually organises his religious events in Uttar Pradesh's Aligarh every Tuesday where hundreds of 'devotees' assemble. During such gatherings, volunteers ensure necessary arrangements for the visitors, including food and drinks.

Bhole Baba previously came to the limelight when he continued holding large religious events showing no regard for COVID-19 restrictions.

How did the stampede break out?

As per media reports, the 'devotees' were stopped from leaving the Hathras venue despite heat and humidity so that the preacher and his retinue could leave first.

Finally, when the visitors were allowed to exit, chaos broke out as people couldn't hold back due to heat. This led to the stampede tragedy, claiming more than 80 lives, mostly women.

(With inputs from agencies)