In a surprising turn of events, Rajasthan police have taken decisive action against a dangerous new fashion trend inspired by jailed gangster Lawrence Bishnoi. The trend, dubbed "Lawrence Jacket," has been sweeping across social media platforms, prompting law enforcement to intervene.
Police Crackdown on Gangster Merchandise
The Kotputli-Behror police conducted significant raids on Tuesday, resulting in the arrest of three individuals involved in selling replicas of the now-famous black-and-orange jacket worn by Lawrence Bishnoi during a court appearance. Krishna alias Guddu Sharma (38), Sanjay Saini (31), and Sureshchand Sharma (50) were taken into custody after police discovered they were selling jackets bearing the gangster's name at City Plaza in Kotputli town.
According to police reports, the operation led to the seizure of 35 jackets that were being marketed with Bishnoi's branding. The arrests came following specific directives from police headquarters aimed at preventing the glorification of criminals and gangsters in the state.
Operation Details and Police Response
Superintendent of Police Devendra Kumar Bishnoi provided details about the coordinated effort that led to the arrests. "Under the supervision of ASP Nazim Ali and Circle Officer Rajendra Kumar Burdak, the Kotputli team led by SHO Rajesh Kumar Sharma conducted raids after gathering intelligence on individuals selling jackets branded with Bishnoi's name," he stated.
Police officials expressed serious concerns about the trend's potential impact on youth. A senior police officer emphasized that this type of glorification normalizes criminal behavior and could potentially draw impressionable young people into gang networks. "We have in the past acted against social media users who glorify gangsters. This is how these criminal groups draw impressionable youth into their network," the officer explained.
Origin of the Viral Trend
The phenomenon began when a photograph of Lawrence Bishnoi wearing the distinctive black-and-orange jacket during a court appearance resurfaced on Instagram. Interestingly, sources indicate that the original photograph dates back to approximately 2017-2018, but it recently gained viral status on social media platforms.
The image sparked a wave of imitation among young social media users attempting to replicate Bishnoi's style, leading to the creation and sale of replica jackets. Police have described this development as particularly worrying given Bishnoi's notorious criminal background.
Authorities have now launched a comprehensive inquiry to identify and take action against others involved in the sale or promotion of such items. The police crackdown represents a proactive approach to combating what they perceive as a dangerous normalization of gang culture through fashion trends.
