Bystander Brutality in Bareilly: Woman Mistaken for Thief Beaten and Humiliated by Mob—A Shocking Case of Vigilante Injustice

A deeply disturbing video from Bareilly, Uttar Pradesh, has sparked national outrage and soul-searching about the rising cases of mob justice in India. The footage, now viral on social media, shows a terrified young woman—identified as Sushmita aka Kajal from Nepal—pleading desperately for someone to call the police as a mob binds her to an electric pole, tears her clothes, and mercilessly beats her in the middle of the night.

The Night of Horror

Sushmita, who works in Noida, was invited to Bareilly’s Baradari area by two acquaintances, Resham Singh and Vinay Gangwar. What was supposed to be an innocent meeting turned into the most traumatic night of her life. Around 1:30 a.m., as she spoke on the phone on a rooftop, local residents—already on alert after rumours about drone sightings—spotted her and, without verifying the facts, sounded the alarm, shouting “thief, thief!”

In a state of panic, Sushmita tried to escape by jumping from the roof, injuring her leg. But instead of compassion, what followed was brutal. The enraged crowd caught her, tied her to a pole, and unleashed a barrage of violence—beating her and tearing her clothes as she screamed her innocence and begged for help.

Mob “Justice” Over the Law

The most harrowing part is how not a single voice in the crowd tried to stop this cruelty. With Sushmita begging, “Please Uncle, call the police!” no one intervened to help or listen. By the time the police arrived on the scene, the mob had already handed out their misguided “justice.”

Police rescued Sushmita and rushed her to the district hospital, where she is now in stable condition. In response, law enforcement has filed serious charges based on video evidence. Four accused individuals have already been arrested, with more suspects identified.

Police Promises and Legal Action

Bareilly police have stated they are taking strong action: “The girl was seriously injured. She was admitted to hospital immediately. We have registered a case and further arrests will follow. Anyone responsible for such crimes will face strict punishment.”

The Deeper Questions

This incident raises several troubling questions. What gives a mob the right to beat, humiliate, and nearly lynch someone based on suspicion? How has our society normalized taking the law into its own hands—at the cost of basic human dignity and justice? Is a woman’s life and honour truly so cheap that it can be ruined forever by a misunderstanding and mob mentality?

A Wake-Up Call for Society

The Bareilly case forces us all to reflect: today it was Sushmita, tomorrow it could be anyone. It’s a grim reminder that vigilante justice is a grave threat to both rule of law and humanity. Justice must be served in courtrooms, not on the streets.

Share your thoughts in the comments below. What steps do you think should be taken to end this culture of mob violence?

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