World

India stampede event organiser surrenders to police

By AAP Newswire

Jul 6, 2024

Women mourn next to the body of a relative in India — More than 120 people were killed and scores injured in a stampede at a Hindu gathering in India. -AP

The chief organiser of an Indian preacher's event where a stampede killed 121 people has surrendered to police, a lawyer for the preacher says, after police had launched a manhunt.

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Devprakash Madhukar was named a key suspect in an initial report registered by police under charges including attempted culpable homicide.

Police had announced a reward of 100,000 rupees ($A1800) for information leading to his arrest.

AP Singh, lawyer for self-styled godman Bhole Baba, said Madhukar was the main organiser of the Hindu religious event on Tuesday attended by about 250,000 people in a village in the northern state of Uttar Pradesh.

District authorities had permitted an event of only 80,000 people.

"He has surrendered from Delhi," Singh told reporters.

"We are not seeking an anticipatory bail."

Singh denied any wrongdoing by the event's organisers and said Devprakash was getting medical treatment in a hospital after the stampede.

The preacher said on Saturday he was saddened by the incident and his aides would help the injured and families of the deceased.

"I have faith that anyone who created the chaos will not be spared," he told Indian news agency ANI, in which Reuters has a minority stake.