Meerut, July 22 -- Rumours of drone sightings have led to panic in several areas of Moradabad district. Despite police efforts to dispel them, the rumours also led to attacks on innocent individuals mistaken for petty criminals.

The frenzy began about ten days ago when sightings of mysterious "shiny objects" in the night sky were reported in rural and urban areas such as Kanth, Chhajlet, Dilari, Thakurdwara, and Kundarki. Social media only gave wind to the false claims, with videos of colourful objects flying purportedly in the skies of Samandpur, Akbarpur Sihali, and Sarai Khajur flooding the platforms.

In Mundhapande, Abbas, a pick-up driver, was brutally attacked on Sunday by a mob that mistook him for a thief. Police arrested four i...