Daijiworld Media Network- Hapur

Hapur, Jul 29: A late-night romantic rendezvous took a violent turn in Hapur district of Uttar Pradesh when a man, attempting to secretly meet his married girlfriend, was mistaken for a ‘drone thief’ and brutally beaten up by suspicious villagers.

According to reports, the man, accompanied by two of his friends, had entered the village post-midnight to meet his lover without attracting attention. However, residents who have been on high alert due to recent drone sightings and rumours of thefts were already patrolling the area.

The presence of three unfamiliar men triggered panic among the villagers, who believed the trio to be scouting homes for robbery using drones. While the two friends managed to escape, the man was caught and interrogated. Unable to provide a satisfactory explanation, he was allegedly thrashed by the enraged locals.

The backdrop to this hysteria is a widespread rumour that criminals are using drones to survey houses before committing thefts — a claim the police have found no concrete evidence to support. Despite this, fear-stricken villagers continue to take night patrols into their own hands.

Circle Officer Anita Chauhan confirmed that a video of the incident has surfaced and is currently under investigation. Authorities have assured that appropriate legal action will be taken after verifying the facts surrounding the assault.