A disturbing pattern is emerging in Bengaluru, where young individuals are increasingly engaging in risky stunts and flaunting weapons in public. In the latest incident, Kamakshipalya police apprehended two 19-year-olds for riding recklessly and flashing machetes on Magadi Road in broad daylight.

This follows a similar episode last month, where 11 youths rode bikes with swords and machetes through DJ Halli at midnight, dragging their weapons on the road. A video of the act soon surfaced online, adding to public outrage.

Worryingly, these are not isolated events. In March last year, an SSLC student stabbed three classmates outside an exam center over a trivial argument. The boy later revealed he habitually carried a knife in his school bag. In another incident from Iliyasnagar, police arrested 18 youngsters—some minors—for brandishing weapons during a festival night gathering.

Authorities are taking action, booking offenders under the Arms Act and placing minors in juvenile care while adults face jail time.

Experts warn that these behaviours are symptomatic of deeper emotional issues. Psychiatrist Dr. Shashidhar Bilagi explained that many adolescents resort to aggression as a way to feel validated. “They struggle with empathy and often misread harmless situations as threats,” he said. Their impulsive risk-taking includes reckless biking, substance abuse, and digital crimes.

Bilagi stressed the importance of parental guidance: open dialogue, firm boundaries, and early intervention can help steer youth away from dangerous choices.

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