Chandigarh, Jan 13: The Haryana Police have launched an extensive digital crackdown to scrub 67 songs from major streaming platforms, aiming to dismantle the glorification of weapons and gang violence. This operation, carried out by the Special Task Force (STF) and the Cyber Unit, targeted tracks on YouTube, Spotify, Amazon Music, Gaana, and JioSaavn that were found to be radicalizing youth by portraying criminal lifestyles as glamorous and desirable.
Investigators noted that these songs often broadcast an unrealistic image of luxury associated with crime, which serves as a catalyst in pushing young individuals toward illegal activities. Haryana Director General of Police Ajay Singhal described the action as a necessary step to protect the younger generation from being misled by digital content that celebrates lawlessness.
“The objective of Haryana Police is not merely to stop crime, but also to save young people from stepping into the world of crime,” DGP Singhal said. He mentioned that such content projects criminals as role models, despite the reality of their lives being defined by legal consequences and danger. He further noted that the families of these individuals often suffer the most because of such criminal activities.
The state’s law enforcement has adopted a firm policy against any platform hosting content that promotes crime culture. STF IG Satheesh Balan stated that the police have also held meetings with singers and lyricists, advising them to avoid themes that glorify violence or gangster elements. He said that such content spreads fear and promotes a sense of insecurity throughout society.
IG Balan noted that the STF and Cyber teams are now closely monitoring social media interactions, specifically targeting those who like or share posts made by known criminals. He said that gangsters frequently use these platforms to lure and recruit youth into their networks. The police stated that this digital cleanup is part of a larger, ongoing campaign to guide youth toward productive and nation-building activities instead of criminal paths.
