A wave of panic has swept across over 300 villages in western Uttar Pradesh, fueled by rumors of drones being used by thieves to scout homes for robberies. From Pilibhit’s rural hamlets to Ghaziabad’s urban fringes, residents like 45-year-old Bhurey Singh in Puranpur, Pilibhit, have taken up nightly vigils, armed with flashlights and sticks, as self-appointed “sky sentries.” Since mid-July 2025, cries of “Drone chor!” have shattered the countryside’s calm, with villagers staying awake past midnight, fearing aerial surveillance by criminals.

The hysteria began in Amroha in June 2025, with bizarre tales of an “underwear-clad, oil-smeared” gang using drones to plan burglaries. Despite their implausibility, these rumors spread rapidly across districts like Moradabad, Rampur, Sambhal, Meerut, Bijnor, and Ghaziabad, amplified by doctored or outdated videos on social media platforms like WhatsApp. Low digital literacy and distrust of unfamiliar technology have turned flickering lights—often from toy drones, airplanes, or even LED-lit pigeons—into perceived threats. In Muzaffarnagar, two youths were arrested for tying LED lights to pigeons, creating “fake drones” that fueled panic.

The fear has escalated into violence. In Modinagar, Ghaziabad, a man was beaten by a mob mistaking him for a drone operator. In Bareilly, four brothers were assaulted over a broken toy drone found on a school roof, and in Bulandshahr’s Aurangabad, a drunk man was stripped and attacked after a blinking light was spotted. Tragically, a 50-year-old beggar in Bareilly was lynched, mistaken for a “drone thief.” No thefts have been conclusively linked to drones, with police attributing the chaos to misinformation.

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Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, addressing the issue in a high-level meeting, warned that those spreading rumors or flying unauthorized drones face charges under the Gangster Act and potentially the National Security Act (NSA). A state-wide drone register has been mandated, and Meerut Range DIG Kalanidhi Naithani has ordered police stations to crack down on unregistered drone use after dark. Over 40 arrests have been made across Meerut, Amroha, and Sambhal for inciting panic, including YouTubers and content creators caught spreading fake videos.

Police have launched awareness drives and WhatsApp helplines to counter hoaxes, urging residents to report sightings to authorities rather than fuel rumors. Rampur SP Vidya Sagar Mishra noted, “We’ve engaged village leaders to dispel myths. Most sightings are hearsay, with no evidence of organized crime.” Yet, fear persists, with residents like Ramapati Verma of Fatehganj, Bareilly, keeping nightly watch, haunted by the question, “What if the thieves come?”

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