The Uttar Pradesh Police announced on Thursday that six individuals have been arrested in connection with the tragic stampede that occurred during a satsang in Hathras. These individuals, all members of the organizing committee for the event, were detained following the incident that resulted in the deaths of 121 people, mostly women, and left 31 others injured.

The stampede happened on Tuesday during a religious gathering led by preacher Narayan Sakar Hari, also known as 'Bhole Baba'. Aligarh Inspector General Shalabh Mathur confirmed the arrests, stating, "Six people, including four men and two women, have been apprehended. They all served as 'Sevadars' or volunteers responsible for managing the crowd."

According to the police, the arrested individuals were in charge of crowd control and had independently managed the task without allowing administrative involvement. The main accused in the incident, identified as 'Mukhya Sevadar' Dev Prakash Madhukar, has a reward of Rs 1 lakh offered for information leading to his capture. Authorities are actively seeking a Non-Bailable Warrant (NBW) for his arrest.

The police are also investigating Narayan Sakar Hari, although his name does not appear in the FIR. Authorities are gathering information on his background and checking for potential criminal records in other cities.

The FIR filed by the police states that over 2.50 lakh people attended the satsang, despite permission being granted for only 80,000 attendees. It further alleges that the organizers attempted to conceal the actual number of attendees by disposing of followers' belongings in nearby fields.

The stampede reportedly occurred when followers surged forward to catch a glimpse of Bhole Baba, leading to chaos and a deadly crush. Eyewitnesses described a horrifying scene where people fell on top of each other, resulting in numerous fatalities.

This tragic incident has raised serious questions about the management and safety protocols at large religious gatherings, prompting an ongoing investigation to ensure accountability and prevent future occurrences.