Police Take Action Against Gangster Glorification
Jodhpur police have initiated a strong crackdown against shops capitalizing on the growing trend of gangster Lawrence Bishnoi merchandise. Authorities are determined to stop what they see as the dangerous glorification of criminal elements becoming pop-culture symbols among young people.
Recent Raids and Arrests
In coordinated operations over the past two days, police teams conducted raids at two separate locations, resulting in significant seizures and arrests. On Thursday, Boranada police in Jodhpur targeted a shop near the bus stand, confiscating a stock of jackets designed in Lawrence Bishnoi's style with his name prominently displayed.
The operation led to the arrest of two individuals identified as Naveen Choudhary and Premaram Choudhary. According to Boranada SHO Shakeel Ahmed, the sellers weren't merely offering these jackets but were actively promoting them as 'Lawrence Bishnoi jackets' through social media platforms, specifically targeting youth as their primary customer base.
Earlier on Wednesday, police had conducted a similar raid at City Plaza in Kotputli, where they seized another batch of these controversial jackets and arrested three people: Krishna Sharma, Suresh Sharma, and Sanjay Saini. From this operation alone, authorities recovered a total of 35 jackets bearing the gangster's branding.
Broader Implications and Future Actions
Police officials have expressed serious concern about the emerging market around Bishnoi's persona. The gangster, currently incarcerated, has been developing an unwanted cult status that authorities believe could negatively influence young minds and glamorize criminal behavior.
Law enforcement has indicated that more raids are likely in the coming days as they attempt to completely choke the supply chain of such merchandise. The crackdown represents a proactive approach to prevent the normalization of gangster culture before it becomes more widespread.
The police action underscores the growing concern about how social media platforms are being used to promote and normalize criminal imagery. By targeting both the physical sellers and their online promotion strategies, authorities hope to send a strong message against the commercial exploitation of gangster identities.
