Chandigarh, 08 October (H.S.): Haryana Police has intensified its statewide campaign against the glorification of gangsters, gang culture, firearms and violence, with a particular focus on protecting young people from the influence of criminal lifestyles portrayed as glamorous on digital and social media platforms.

As part of the initiative, the Special Task Force (STF), Haryana, recently held a sensitisation meeting with prominent singers, lyricists and producers associated with the Haryanvi music industry. Artists were apprised of the adverse social impact of portraying gangsters, firearms and violence in songs and music videos and their potential influence on impressionable youth.

The STF has also constituted a dedicated committee to monitor online content promoting gang and gun culture. The committee is continuously reviewing songs, music videos and other digital material and issuing notices to online platforms and intermediaries wherever necessary under applicable legal provisions.

Under Section 79(3)(b) of the Information Technology Act, 2000, and Rule 3(1)(d) of the Information Technology (Intermediary Guidelines and Digital Media Ethics Code) Rules, 2021, notices were issued to various online intermediaries. Following the intervention, 67 songs glorifying gangs, firearms and violence have so far been removed from different online streaming platforms. Police said a decline has subsequently been observed in the production and circulation of such content.

The campaign is also aimed at complying with directions issued by the Punjab and Haryana High Court on July 22, 2019, in CWP No. 6213 of 2016, Reet Mohinder Singh vs. State of Haryana & Others. The court had directed the police authorities of Punjab, Haryana and Chandigarh to ensure that songs glorifying alcohol, drugs and violence are not publicly played, including during live events.

Beyond content removal, the STF has focused on its social impact. Around 200 youths identified through social media as being influenced by gangster and gun culture have been counselled, with efforts made to reconnect them with mainstream society. Police also identified 12 Instagram accounts allegedly operated or used by terrorist Shahzad Bhatti for radicalising and influencing youth and got them removed. Inputs regarding objectionable social media content have also been shared with other states for coordinated action.

Haryana Police has prepared a detailed advisory for print, electronic and social media organisations, content creators and the public, urging them not to promote or glorify criminals. The advisory, prepared in the context of a Haryana Legislative Assembly resolution passed in August 2025, is being forwarded to the Department of Information, Public Relations and Languages for circulation among media institutions.

DGP Haryana Ajay Singhal said the objective was not to give publicity to crime but to create a strong message against it. He said glorification of gangster and gun culture could negatively influence youth and normalise violence. He appealed to media organisations, artists, content creators, social media platforms and the public to act responsibly and said Haryana Police would continue efforts to keep young people away from crime and radicalisation.

Hindusthan Samachar / GURSHARAN SINGH