Chandigarh, November 23 — Haryana’s Director General of Police O P Singh has asked officers across the state to pursue strict legal action against singers whose songs and videos encourage gang culture, arguing that such content is damaging social values and undermining law enforcement efforts. Addressing senior police officials on Sunday, Singh said these artists should be viewed as criminals if they continue to promote violence and illegal lifestyles online and in public.
“These people, in a matter of minutes, destroy the teachings given to youth by their parents, education by teachers and the society’s discipline,” Singh said, urging officers to identify those responsible and pursue charges under relevant laws. He noted that certain songs garner massive viewership and can influence young listeners toward violence and crime.
The Haryana Police, earlier this year, began a coordinated effort targeting songs alleged to promote gun culture, glorify gang rivalries, or incite hatred. As part of that drive, social media content, digital platforms and singers associated with such material came under official scrutiny, while the state’s cybercrime teams were directed to monitor posts and intervene where required. According to police, numerous videos and songs have since been taken down from platforms on the grounds that they could “adversely affect the youth.”
In a post on X, Singh repeated his instruction that musicians broadcasting gang life “should be treated as criminals,” and called for consistent enforcement across districts. The DGP said the messaging must reach entertainers and promoters just as strongly as it does criminal networks.
Police officials said the effort is part of a broader push to curb organised crime and dismantle its support ecosystem, including online promotion. They argued that glorification of weapons, violence and revenge fuels criminal behaviour and distracts young people from education and community obligations.
Singh has told officers, from SHOs up to IG-rank police leadership, to ensure investigations reach logical conclusions. “In a democracy, the rule of law prevails,” he wrote, adding that the police will continue to hold offenders accountable regardless of their social media reach.
