Hapur: A man who had come to secretly meet his married girlfriend in the middle of the night was brutally thrashed by villagers in Hapur district after being mistaken for a “drone thief”. The incident highlights growing paranoia in parts of western Uttar Pradesh, where recent drone sightings have fuelled rumours of criminals using unmanned aerial vehicles to target homes for theft.
The man, accompanied by two friends, had entered the village under the cover of darkness. Their movement, however, drew the attention of local residents who were on night patrol. Suspecting the trio of being part of a gang using drones to plan burglaries, the villagers raised an alarm and managed to catch one of them—later revealed to be the woman’s lover. His two companions reportedly fled the scene.
When confronted, the man failed to offer a convincing reason for his presence at that hour, which further escalated the villagers’ suspicions. He was subsequently beaten by the crowd. A video of the assault has since surfaced online and is reportedly circulating on social media platforms.
The incident is being investigated, said Circle Officer Anita Chauhan, who confirmed that authorities have taken cognizance of the video and are verifying the circumstances leading to the assault. Legal action will be taken as per findings, she added.
The hysteria around “drone thieves” reportedly began after a drone was spotted in neighbouring Amroha district. Despite police clarifications that there is no concrete evidence linking drones to any organized criminal activity, local fears persist. In several villages, residents have formed vigilante groups that patrol the streets at night, often taking matters into their own hands.
Drone Panic Across UP Villages:
Amid rising panic across several districts in Uttar Pradesh over alleged drone sightings, police have clarified that most of these reports are baseless and stem from misinformation. In an official advisory issued on Tuesday, authorities said the so-called drones were in fact battery-operated toy helicopters—many of them inexpensive, China-made playthings with no surveillance capability.
The advisory noted that in several instances, ordinary objects or children’s toys were mistakenly identified and publicized as drones. In some areas, including parts of Bareilly and Budaun, residents reported unidentified flying objects, fueling speculation of surveillance or criminal activity. However, investigations have revealed that these were merely plastic toy drones, often purchased online for Rs 800–Rs 1000. They carry no cameras or recording devices—only flashing lights that glow at night, contributing to the confusion.
Police in Bareilly said that some miscreants may have deliberately used these toys to create fear among villagers. A few such toys have been recovered in the area, all lacking any functional features beyond remote-controlled flight within a short range (up to 300 meters) and a brief battery life of five minutes.
In Budaun, a woman harvesting maize found one such toy drone in her field. She and a former village head took it to the local Bilsi police station. Upon inspection, the object was confirmed to be a harmless toy.
Police have urged the public not to fall for rumors or engage in fear-mongering, and emphasized that these incidents are being closely monitored
