Instagram reels, memes, and apology videos – these are newest weapons in the Rajasthan Police’s kitty to discourage potentially “trouble-making” youth from a future life of crime.
‘Operation Sanskar’, roughly translated ‘Operation Values’, is the Dungarpur Police’s newest initiative to counter an increase in “glorification” of criminal activities on social media. Launched in July, the operation is aimed at reducing crimes by these local “street” gangs, allegedly composed of young men aged between 18 and 24.
The crackdown came at a time when, according to the police, the area had been seeing an uptick in crimes – from theft and stalking to assault and highway robbery.
“The first step targeted the root cause—the glorification of crimes online,” Dungarpur Police Superintendent Manish Kumar said. “Instagram accounts were carefully monitored, and those posting intimidating reels were booked under relevant laws. Flaunting weapons online were charged under the Arms Act, while bikers performing dangerous stunts in public were penalised under the Motor Vehicle Act.”
Police have seized over 300 motorbikes between July and August. Meanwhile, 446 people have been arrested and booked under sections that include the Motor Vehicles Act, the Arms Act and the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita.
A typical video, according to the police, would involve young men flaunting weapons or taunting the police. There were also complaints about how these videos were affecting children, sources said.
To counter this, police had to first understand what these posters wanted most – validation through likes and comments. They then turned this on its head by making arrested youth post apology videos, which they posted online.
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“Offenders were made to record apology videos, which were then shared on the same platforms where they boasted about their crime. This reversal not only dented their image but also sent a strong message to others,” SP Kumar said.
They then combined this with their own reels and memes – sometimes mocking and sometimes educative – to highlight the consequences of crimes.
The strategy appears to be working. Within weeks, these reels secured over three million views on Instagram, prompting everyone – from politicians to the local shopkeeper — to actively send them videos seeking action.
“Before, these gangs would create a ruckus during celebrations. There have been clashes between these gangs as well. I’m glad that the police are taking action,” Jugal Sharma, a local, says.
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In a post on Instagram, current Banswara MP Rajkumar Roat showered praises on the initiative. The post said: “It is the responsibility of parents and families to make the child sanskari. The police are now doing so for parents who have not fulfilled their responsibilities. Now, children have to decide whether they want to learn from their parents, family and society or from the police?”
On the ground too, the police claim that the initiative has helped significantly.
“Since the start of the operation, not a single incident of stone pelting for the purpose of highway robbery has been reported,” SP Kumar said, while another officer added: “The situation improved significantly — traffic has become more organised, incidents of stalking and gang fights have gone down, and women have reported feeling safer in public spaces”.
