The video, shared on social media platform X (formerly Twitter) by the handle @gharkekalesh, shows the accused being surrounded by a group of men wielding wooden logs. Rather than handing him over to the authorities, the crowd first administers a beating before compelling him to dance. As the thief shuffles to the rhythm of the Bhojpuri track, the men who had previously punished him are seen joining in the dance, much to the crowd's amusement.
Captioned, “Thief got beaten by the crowd and forced to dance on Song, Somewhere in the NCR region,” the video has amassed over 1.1 million views in just 12 hours. The unusual punishment has sparked a wave of reactions online.
Many social media users found the video entertaining, with comments such as, “Not a single day without entertainment in our country,” and “THAT’S JUST SIMPLY AWESOME…. Great way of teaching a lesson.” Others were critical, suggesting that the thief should have been handed over to the police rather than subjected to public humiliation. One user commented, “This is harassment; if he has done wrong, call the police and arrest him.”
The video has also led to some light-hearted commentary, with one observer noting the irony of the thief's T-shirt reading «The Boys,» a reference to a popular TV show. The incident has been likened to a showcase of India’s distinctive approach to dealing with petty crime, with one user remarking, “India isn’t for beginners.”
In a separate but equally surprising event, a thief who