- Devprakash Madhukar, key organiser of the fatal stampede in Uttar Pradesh, surrenders to police.
- The stampede, during a Hindu religious event, resulted in 121 deaths and injured many.
- Authorities had previously issued a manhunt for Madhukar, who faces charges including attempted culpable homicide.
In a significant development, Devprakash Madhukar, the chief organiser of the Hindu religious event where a deadly stampede claimed 121 lives this week, turned himself in to the police on Friday. The tragic incident, which occurred in a village in Uttar Pradesh, India, has brought intense scrutiny and legal action. Madhukar, who was a key suspect, surrendered after a manhunt was launched by the authorities, who had even offered a reward of 100,000 rupees (approximately $1,200) for information leading to his arrest.
A.P. Singh, the lawyer for Bhole Baba, the self-styled godman who hosted the event, confirmed Madhukar’s surrender from Delhi. Singh stated that Madhukar was not seeking anticipatory bail and was receiving medical treatment following the stampede. The event, originally permitted for 80,000 attendees, drew a crowd of about 250,000 people, leading to the tragic mishap.
The preacher expressed his sorrow over the incident, promising support to the injured and the families of those who died. Despite the overwhelming evidence pointing to negligence, Singh denied any wrongdoing by the organisers, maintaining that the event was managed as per the initial plan. The case has highlighted severe lapses in crowd management and has drawn attention to the need for stricter regulations in handling large public gatherings.