Gurgaon: Police have examined around 2,000 social media accounts under “Operation Ankush”, a campaign launched on Sept 9 to curb the display of weapons and social media content promoting criminal tendencies.The police’s Social Media Cell identified 42 profiles displaying weapons and 17 profiles promoting criminal tendencies or behaviour during the scrutiny. The accounts carried reels and videos showing weapons and content related to criminal activities, in some cases accompanied by songs glorifying hooliganism and criminal behaviour.Police detained individuals linked to the identified profiles and got the objectionable reels and videos removed from social media. “The individuals were also counselled against posting content that displays weapons or promotes criminal behaviour,” Sandeep Turan, police spokesperson, said.During the operation, police recovered illegal weapons displayed in some of the social media videos and registered three criminal cases against the concerned individuals under Arms Act.Police said that in cases where licensed weapons were shown in reels or videos and had been provided to other individuals for making photographs or videos, police initiated the process for cancellation of the concerned weapon licences. In three such cases, recommendations for cancellation of the licences have been made by the police to the concerned authorities.They also said its Social Media Cell will continue monitoring social media platforms and taking action against content involving weapon display, glorification of crime and promotion of criminal tendencies.Police also appealed to people not to post, share or promote such content and urged citizens to inform the police about such activities. In a few cases, videos of the offenders were shared by the cops on their official police page where the violators were seen issuing public apologies.
