UP: Man sets national highway on fire for Instagram reel
What's the story
In a desperate attempt to create attention-grabbing social media content, a man named Sheikh Bilal set National Highway-2 in Fatehpur, Uttar Pradesh, on fire. The incident formed part of his New Year-themed Instagram reel.
Bilal used petrol to write "2024" on the road before setting it on fire.
The video of this reckless stunt soon went viral on social media, earning widespread condemnation from netizens.
Legal action
Fatehpur Police arrest man for dangerous stunt
The Fatehpur Police swung into action immediately, arresting Bilal and starting the required legal proceedings.
The police confirmed this on their official X handle, saying: "In the case, the accused has been arrested by the Kotwali Police Station and presented before the Honorable Court."
The quick action was taken as Bilal's stunt not only put public safety at risk but also flouted road safety laws.
Twitter Post
X post of the reel
शेख बिलाल नाम के इस शख्स ने नेशनल हाईवे-2 पर थार गाड़ी के सामने खड़े होकर फतेहपुर उप्र में हाईवे पर पेट्रोल डालकर सड़क पर आग लगा दी।@dgpup @Uppolice @uptrafficpolice @ADGZonPrayagraj @igrangealld @fatehpurpolice कृपया संज्ञान लें 🙏 pic.twitter.com/LEtCIUoHg4
— दिगम्बर सत्यव्रत (@DSatyavrata) December 28, 2024
Reckless trends
Rising trend of dangerous stunts for social media fame
Bilal's incident is not an isolated case but part of a growing trend where people perform dangerous acts for social media fame.
In Meerut, Uttar Pradesh, another man named Intezaar Ali performed a reckless stunt with his SUV. He piled mud onto his vehicle's roof and sped down the road, causing chaos.
The Meerut Police identified and seized his vehicle after public backlash.