Man with schizophrenia mistaken for drone thief & thrashed, spends 20 days in hospital

Bareilly: A 26-year-old man, battling schizophrenia since childhood, stepped out of his village in Bijnor district on July 26 and disappeared. Looking lost and dishevelled, he wandered aimlessly for nine days before being mistaken as a "drone thief" by a local vigilante group.

Rumours of drones being used for theft surveillance in UP villages have sparked fear in recent weeks, leading to several attacks on innocents. Unable to comprehend or respond to villagers' questions, Satish Kumar (name changed) was mercilessly thrashed. He could not defend himself as blows rained on him, until local police intervened and rescued him.