Haryana Director General of Police (DGP) O.P. Singh has called for stringent legal action against singers who glorify firearms, gang lifestyles and violence through their songs and music videos. The State police chief said such individuals should be treated “as criminals”, emphasising the growing impact of gun culture on the youth.

The remarks came in a letter addressed to senior police officers to commend them for the progress made under Operation Trackdown, a special Statewide crackdown on criminals that has been underway for the past 18 days.

‘Treat them as criminals,’ says DGP

In his communication on Sunday, Mr. Singh said that singers promoting violence, money-driven lifestyles and gang rivalries through their content were endangering social harmony and misleading impressionable youth.

“Singers who promote gang lifestyles to youth through music and videos, driven by money and power, should be treated as criminals and strict legal action should be taken against them,” he wrote.

He added that such content influences young listeners in a matter of minutes, making them forget the values taught by parents, teachers and society. The DGP expressed concern that the glamorisation of weapons and criminal activities was eroding social discipline.

Operation Trackdown: 60 murder plots foiled

Launched earlier this month, Operation Trackdown aims to identify and arrest hardened criminals, disrupt their support networks and seize illegally procured weapons.

According to Mr. Singh, the Haryana Police have achieved “historic” breakthroughs during the special drive, including foiling more than 60 planned murders.

“You must dismantle their entire criminal ecosystem,” he directed officers. “Continue to take legal action against those who handle their illegal income, supply weapons, provide hiding places and create favourable publicity on social media and among the general public.”

Police data shared by the DGP noted that more than 1,500 criminals had been apprehended. Additionally, the force recovered over 250 country-made pistols, revolvers and other firearms, along with 350 live cartridges during the crackdown.

Previous action against songs promoting gun culture

This is not the first time that the Haryana Police have moved against music content alleged to be encouraging violence. Earlier in 2025, the force took down around 10 songs from social media platforms for promoting gun culture.

At least two live concerts—one of them in Gurugram—were also halted mid-performance following objections raised by local authorities.

Among the banned tracks, six were reportedly sung by prominent Haryanvi artist Masoom Sharma, whose music enjoys a sizeable fan base, especially among the youth.

Artists allege selective targeting

The police action earlier this year triggered strong reactions from the local music fraternity. Several artists accused the authorities of “selectively picking” certain singers while ignoring others who produced similar content.

During the State Budget session in February, some legislators also urged the government to adopt a “more lenient and balanced approach”, arguing that the issue required engagement with cultural communities rather than punitive measures alone.

However, senior police officials maintain that the crackdown is essential as criminal elements increasingly use music videos to project influence, recruit new members and intimidate rivals.

A broader social concern

Observers note that the debate around gun culture in Haryana has been intensifying over the past few years, with rising worries about the romanticisation of crime in regional pop culture. Music videos featuring weapons, luxury lifestyles and gang affiliations have garnered millions of views, shaping online narratives among young audiences.

The DGP’s latest directive signals the State’s intention to push back firmly against such trends and hold content creators accountable where their work violates the law.

Conclusion

With Operation Trackdown continuing across the State, the Haryana Police appear determined to clamp down not only on criminal gangs but also on the cultural channels that amplify violence. Whether the latest push will lead to long-term behavioural change among artists and audiences remains to be seen, but the State’s law enforcement machinery has made its position clear: promoting gun culture will not be tolerated.