No check on rising gun culture

Despite police action against gangsters and anti-social elements, the gun culture is still proliferating in the industrial hub. Often youths possessing illegal weapons post videos on social media without fearing police action. They glorify weapons either to challenge their opponents or to dare the police to take action.

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Two videos (which are available with The Tribune) went viral on social media on Saturday in which youths can be seen glorifying weapons.

In one of the videos, a youth, who is having a criminal background, was sitting in a car while keeping a weapon on his lap. Another youth sitting on the rear seat is also carrying a gun. The youth sitting alongside the driver is having a criminal history, facing several cases, including heinous ones. He had recently come out on bail. Questions are being raised how a persons with a criminal background could possess a weapon and if he was possessing the same, how he dare to make a video and post it on social media. The vehicle is passing near the Civil Hospital, Ludhiana. Even the police hooter was being used in the vehicle.

Sources said the video had reached police officials and internal investigation was already launched by the police.

In another incident, a video of youths firing shots during a party in Ludhiana has surfaced on social media. The youths also made a video of waving a sword.

Weapons are being openly promoted in the video. Promoting weapons by making videos on social media is a crime. It is not yet known whether the pistol with which the youth was seen firing is licensed or illegal or it was an airgun. It has been learnt that the youth seen in the video was a resident of the Dhandra Road area. Police sources said the matter had reached Dugri police officials and investigation was already started. The officials said after identifying the youths they would be rounded up. After interrogation, it would be known from where they got the weapon.