NEW DELHI: Gangs in Delhi lure youth through social media with flashy lifestyles, prompting police crackdown on recruitment methods and online presence.
Gangs operating in Delhi, NCR, and Northern India, both local and international, are exploiting social media to target vulnerable youth, warns a senior police official. Groups like the Himanshu Bhau and Goldy Brar-Lawrence gangs from abroad entice young people with images of wealth, luxury cars, designer clothes, and firearms, glamorising their criminal activities to attract followers, including claims of publicised killings.
Recruitment strategies vary from short-term tasks to long-term criminal involvement, adapting to circumstances. A notable incident involved a fatal shooting in a Rajouri Garden restaurant, where Anu, allegedly connected to the Himanshu gang via social media, played a pivotal role, possibly coordinating from abroad. This isn’t an isolated case, with many gang members apprehended citing initial recruitment through social media, according to Delhi Police sources. The process often begins with prospective recruits contacting gangsters via multiple social media accounts, leading to initial roles as suppliers of arms, money, or other resources. As recruits gain trust and expertise, they progress to larger tasks such as murder and extortion on behalf of the gang, enabling remote gang leaders to maintain operations from abroad or even from within the prison. Delhi Police has implemented several measures to counter these activities, including the shutdown of suspected gang-related social media accounts and vigilant monitoring to prevent further youth recruitment. Numerous social media groups associated with such gangs have also been removed from platforms to curb their influence.
The challenge remains substantial, with gangs increasingly adept at exploiting online platforms to recruit impressionable youth into criminal activities. Authorities continue to emphasise the importance of public awareness and proactive policing to safeguard vulnerable communities from the allure of organised crime via social media.