Noida Police arrests 3 men for recording 'kidnapping' reel for views, likes

Upon further investigation, it was revealed that the alleged kidnapping was part of an elaborate set up for the sake of online clout. (Representative Image)

A video of a man struggling in handcuffs while another person tried to shove him in a car in an apparent kidnapping surfaced online. The shocking visuals from Uttar Pradesh’s Noida were enough to frighten anyone but they turned out to be fake. The young men were actually trying to record a “kidnapping” reel to gain views and followers.

The incident highlighted the lengths to which some people can go to for fame, a few followers and some views. Meanwhile, the reel that was being recorded on the road caught the attention of the police who arrested the youth for recording a reel around fake kidnapping.

According to a report in NDTV, the viral video, initially mistaken for a real-life kidnapping, showed one young man being pushed into the car forcibly by his companions while another person recorded the entire scenario. The clip quickly caught the attention of concerned social media users and the police as well. Later, Noida’s Sector 20 police arrested three men named Ajit, Deepak and Abhishek, in connection with the reel.

Upon further investigation, it was revealed that the alleged kidnapping was part of an elaborate set up for the sake of online clout. The trio had actually reached Noida Sector 18 to record the reel around the theme of kidnapping, NDTV reported.

Assistant Deputy Commissioner of Police (ADCP) Manish Kumar Mishra criticised their actions and said that not only did they cause public panic and caused nuisance in a busy market area, but they also endangered the safety of their friend.

The trio was ultimately released on bail with stern warnings for not putting themselves in danger for a few likes and views on social media.