One bizarre, disturbing incident has shaken courier office staff in Bengaluru. A gang of kids tried a prank: They brought a man bound in a bag and the staff were asked to send him as a parcel. The incident, confined to the Vyalikaval police station limits, has triggered significant concerns over callousness and abuse of public services.
On the evening of March 17, around 4 pm, three youths arrived at a courier office carrying a large bag. They told the staff to parcel it. When the staff checked, they were shocked to see a man struggling inside. The man was gasping for air and seemed very upset. The staff immediately popped open the bag and gave him water. Still, the youths said the bag should be sent as a parcel. Even offering money to persuade the staff. When they refused, an argument broke out. Outraged by their situation, the courier employees made contact with the police. The pranksters fled the scene before the police arrived.
They eventually revealed that the group had staged the act to create a social media reel. They had trouble obtaining bus and train tickets among Ramzan and Ugadi as it was a festive rush, and they decided to make fun of it all by pretending to “parcel” a person rather than traveling. Their goal was to get as many views online as possible. Shockingly, the prankster had even shoved his own father into the bag to perform the stunt. This careless action not only endangered the man’s health but sparked panic among the courier staff.
The Vyalikaval police were notified right away. They tracked down family members implicated, counselled them, and warned them before attempting similar dangerous pranks. Five people were taken into custody, interrogated and then released after being compelled to apologize.
What began as a prank meant to draw attention to social media soon became harrowing for courier office staff as well as putting the man in the bag in a threatening situation. It’s the kind of thing that underscores how people can get into trouble because of the online reels that can spread viral content. The police have urged the public, and especially younger citizens, not to engage in such stunts and respect the safety of the public. Festivals should be celebrated with joy and responsibility, not with actions that put lives in danger.
