Days after a shocking firing incident at her family’s Bareilly residence, Khushboo Patani, a retired Indian Army Major and elder sister of actress Disha Patani, has used her social media platform to deliver a powerful message on self-defense. In a video posted to her Instagram handle, Khushboo demonstrated how everyday items like a data cable could be used as a makeshift tool for self-protection in a dangerous situation.
The video, which she captioned “MERA DESH, MERI ZIMMEDARI” (My country, my responsibility), was intended as an empowering lesson. Khushboo highlighted that self-defense doesn’t always require formal training or licensed weapons. Instead, being resourceful and having a strong presence of mind can be crucial in a crisis.
However, the post triggered a mixed response on social media. While many users praised her resilience and courage, others were quick to criticize the timing of the video, linking it directly to the recent attack on her home. Some critics questioned her credibility, with comments like, “Pehle khud ka self-defence to kar lete” (First, you should have practiced self-defense yourself) and “Per ab to goli chal chuki hai” (But the bullet has already been fired). A few users even accused the family of being fearful, writing, “Pura parivar dara hua hai” (The whole family is scared).
Conversely, a large number of her followers offered strong words of encouragement, calling her a “warrior” and praising her strength. Comments flooded in with messages of support, such as, “We are with you mam always,” and “Mam, you’re amazing, it takes guts and willpower to stay strong on your ground!”
The Bareilly Firing and Its Context
The video’s timing is significant as it follows a disturbing event that took place last Friday. Two unidentified men on a motorbike opened fire outside the Patani family’s residence in Bareilly’s Civil Lines. While no injuries were reported, the incident was serious enough for Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Anurag Arya to confirm that an FIR had been filed and five investigation teams were deployed to track the assailants using CCTV footage.
The Goldy Brar gang later claimed responsibility for the attack in a social media post, stating that the firing was a response to Khushboo’s alleged “insult of our revered saints.”
The controversy that led to the attack is linked to remarks Khushboo Patani made on preacher Aniruddhacharya’s views on live-in relationships. Khushboo had publicly criticized his alleged misogynistic comments about women who are unmarried after the age of 25. Her comments were later misrepresented and wrongly linked to another spiritual leader, Premanand Ji Maharaj, sparking a wider backlash.
Both Khushboo and her father, Jagdish Patani, have since clarified that her words were taken out of context. Her father defended the family, stating, “We are Sanatanis, and we respect the sadhus and saints. If someone is misrepresenting her statement, it is a conspiracy to demean us.”
Despite the ongoing controversy and the terrifying attack, Khushboo Patani’s self-defense video and her public stance suggest a resolve to not be intimidated. Her platform has become a means of sharing a message of resilience and self-reliance in the face of adversity