Haryana DGP calls for action against singers promoting gang culture

Haryana Director General of Police OP Singh stressed that strict legal action would be taken against singers promoting gun culture among youth and said they should be treated as “criminals”.

Mr Singh made the remark in a letter to his subordinates on Sunday to congratulate them on the success of ‘Operation Trace’, a special campaign to track down criminals carried out in the state over the last 18 days.

“Singers who promote gang lifestyles to youth through music and videos based on money and power should be treated as criminals and strict legal action should be taken against them,” Mr. Singh wrote, adding that within minutes, these people make youth forget the teachings of their parents and teachers and social discipline.

Praising the police force, Mr Singh said they had foiled more than sixty murder plots during the campaign, a “historic achievement”. “You must dismantle their entire criminal ecosystem. Continue to take legal action against those who seize their illicit proceeds, supply weapons, provide hideouts and create positive publicity on social media and among the public,” Mr. Singh said.

Mr. Singh said the police seized more than 250 village-made pistols, pistols and revolvers and 350 live cartridges from more than 1,500 criminals.

Earlier this year, Haryana Police had removed around 10 songs that allegedly promoted gun culture from various social media platforms and at least two concerts, including one in Gurugram, were stopped midway. Six of the 10 banned songs were sung by Masoom Sharma, a leading Haryanvi singer.

However, many artists from the music industry accused the police of “picking and choosing” to target a few singers. The issue also resonated in the State Assembly during the Budget session in February, where legislators took a tolerant view of the issue.