A network of food delivery workers in Ludhiana, frustrated by a surge in midnight muggings, used live-location tracking to corner and thrash a group of alleged robbers in Dugri, leading to a legal showdown with police. The incident occurred early Friday and has ignited a debate over vigilante justice.
Background of the Incident
Nearly 40 delivery riders, who coordinate safety through a WhatsApp group sharing live locations, mobilized around 2 a.m. on Friday to rescue a colleague, Manjot 'Goldy'. The drivers claim they intercepted six armed men following Goldy near a temple in Dugri. They caught hold of four suspects, whom they 'thrashed' before handing them over to authorities.
Police Response and Legal Charges
However, the intervention backfired legally. Additional Deputy Commissioner of Police (II) Karanveer Singh stated that the delivery men now face charges for assault. He said: 'The drivers should have informed the police instead of taking the law into their own hands.' The riders maintain the suspects were armed and had obscured their vehicle registration number plates with mud.
Justification by Delivery Workers
Delivery rider Mohammad Talib cited a string of recent attacks as justification for their defensive posture. These include a sword assault on a colleague, Diffni Singla, on Wednesday and the robbery of Rs 10,000 from a courier on April 28. The riders argue that they acted to protect themselves and others from ongoing street crime.
Broader Surge in Street Crime
The unrest comes amid a broader surge in street crime in Ludhiana. In Model Town Extension, a woman named Reema Chawla was robbed of her gold chain at knifepoint while buying vegetables outside her home. Recent CCTV footage from Dugri also captured three men on a motorcycle attempting to snatch an e-commerce delivery bag and then robbing a scrap dealer of Rs 7,000.
Social Media Reactions and Victim Statements
A car driver thwarted the Dugri incident, and the crime's video drew heavy social media criticism. Delivery rider Amit said: 'I was robbed of Rs 10,000 and a mobile phone at Thareeke Road on April 28 and I'm on my way to the police station to find out if they are the ones now thrashed in Dugri.'
Ongoing Investigation
Police are verifying the identities of the injured men to determine if they are linked to the prior robberies. Meanwhile, the delivery workers remain in custody pending the assault investigation. The case highlights the tension between public frustration over crime and the legal constraints on taking the law into one's own hands.
