Overview

• Police registered a case naming multiple villagers, including Vaibhav and Akhilesh, and detained six after reviewing a viral video of the assault.
• The victim, 38-year-old Hariom from Fatehpur district, was found near the Ishwardaspur railway track after being attacked overnight.
• Investigators say villagers tied him to a pole and beat him with sticks and belts on suspicion that he was linked to so-called drone thieves.
• Authorities say widespread reports of drone scouting lack corroboration even as fear-driven patrols and confrontations spread across several districts.
• State measures remain in place, including drone-owner registries and night-flight bans, with the chief minister warning of action under stringent laws for rumour-mongering or misuse.