Six organisers arrested after crowding at religious event in India leaves 121 dead

Police in India have arrested six people after 121 people were killed in a stampede during a religious ceremony in the northern state of Uttar Pradesh.

The incident occurred on Tuesday afternoon when followers of a Hindu preacher known as Bhole Baba rushed to scoop earth from his feet after a prayer meeting in Hathras, about 200 km (125 miles) southeast of the capital New Delhi.

Initial investigations have shown that more than 250,000 people had gathered for the event, which had set up a tent in a muddy field, even though organizers had permission to accommodate only about 80,000 people. It is unclear how many people were in the tent when the stampede began.

Uttar Pradesh police on Thursday arrested six of the preacher’s aides, four men and two women, who were involved in organising the event.

“All six people who were arrested worked as volunteers in satsang“Inspector General Shalabh Mathur said, referring to the prayer meeting.

Police also issued an arrest warrant and offered a reward of 100,000 rupees (£938) for the arrest of prime suspect Devprakash Madhukar.

“When the stampede happened, all the people who organised it fled from the spot,” Mr Mathur added.

The priest, whose real name is Suraj Pal, also fled the scene and has not been found since.

His lawyer, AP Singh, told the BBC on Thursday that the infatuation was caused by “some anti-social elements” and that it was a “criminal conspiracy” against the preacher.

The lawyer denied reports that Mr Pal’s security guards caused a stampede by pushing away worshippers who rushed to touch his feet.

“A completely false accusation,” he said. “Security personnel always help supporters.”

Mr Singh said he would represent the arrested men and women.

“The police are doing their job, but the people they arrested are those whose family members were victims of the stampede,” he said. “Those who actually caused the stampede fled.”

Police said they would question the pastor based on the findings of the ongoing investigation. Mr. Pal was not named in the first information report filed after the infatuation.

“If necessary, we will question the baba but it is too early to say or comment on whether he will play any role,” Mr Mathur said, adding that permission for the event was obtained by the organiser and not the preacher himself.

All the fatalities, including 112 women and seven children, have been identified and their bodies have been handed over to their families, state officials said.