Haryana Police on Thursday said they have intensified a comprehensive and coordinated campaign against the glorification of gangsters, gang culture, firearms and violence, expanding outreach across digital platforms, the music industry, media institutions and youth.
The objective of the campaign is to effectively curb the tendency to portray criminal lifestyles as glamorous and to protect, particularly, young people from the negative influence of gang culture and gun culture, the Haryana Police said in a statement.
STF meets Haryanvi music industry
As part of a focused initiative in this direction, the Special Task Force (STF), Haryana, organised a meeting with prominent singers, lyricists and producers from the Haryanvi music industry.
During the meeting, artists were sensitised about the adverse social impact of glorifying gangsters, firearms and violence through songs and music videos, as well as its negative influence on the youth, it said.
Committee monitors online content
A dedicated committee has been constituted in STF (Haryana) to identify and review online content glorifying gangs, gangsters, firearms and violence.
The committee is continuously monitoring and reviewing songs, music videos and other digital content. Wherever required, notices are also being issued to concerned online platforms and intermediaries for necessary action under applicable legal provisions.
67 songs removed from platforms
As part of this initiative, notices were issued to various online intermediaries under relevant provisions of the Information Technology Act, 2000 and under Information Technology (Intermediary Guidelines and Digital Media Ethics Code) Rules, 2021.
During the past year, 67 songs glorifying gangs, firearms and violence have been removed from various online streaming platforms.
Following these effective interventions, a significant decline has also been observed in the production and circulation of content glorifying gangsters, gang culture, firearms and violence, the statement said.
Police counsels youth influenced by gang culture
Haryana Police has not limited its efforts to the removal of objectionable content but has also focused on reducing its social impact among young people.
Around 200 youths identified through social media platforms as being influenced by gangster and gun culture were counselled by STF, with efforts made to reconnect them with the mainstream of society.
In the same direction, 12 Instagram accounts being operated or used for radicalising and influencing youth were identified and removed. In addition, multiple inputs relating to social media content glorifying gangsters, gang culture, firearms and gun culture were shared with other States to facilitate coordinated action against such content and profiles.
Advisory issued to media, creators
A detailed advisory has also been prepared to sensitise representatives of print, electronic and social media, content creators and the general public regarding the prevention of glorification of gangsters and criminals.
The advisory, prepared in the context of the resolution passed by the Haryana Legislative Assembly in August 2025, makes a clear appeal to refrain from promoting or glorifying crime and criminal elements.
DGP urges responsible portrayal of crime
Director General of Police, Haryana, Ajay Singhal, said that the priority of the police is not limited to taking legal action against criminals, but also to effectively curb the mindset and digital environment that portrays crime as attractive or prestigious.
He said that the glorification of gangster and gun culture can adversely influence young people and contribute to the normalisation of violence in society.
Appealing to media institutions, artists, content creators, social media platforms and the general public to act responsibly, the DGP said that criminals should receive not publicity, but a clear message against crime.
He further stated that Haryana Police will continue to make every possible effort to keep youth away from crime and radicalisation and to guide them towards a positive and constructive path.