The Union Ministry of Information and Broadcasting has issued an advisory to an OTT platform directing it not to release the docuseries ‘Lawrence of Punjab’. This action came after a request from the Punjab Police, as confirmed by Director General of Police (DGP) Gaurav Yadav on Friday.
Punjab Police’s Proactive Move
Thanking the ministry for its swift response, DGP Yadav stated that the cyber crime division of Punjab Police had taken up the matter with the ministry. The division sought restraint on the screening of the docuseries in a proactive move to ensure responsible content dissemination and maintain the social fabric of the state.
Risk of Glorifying Organised Crime
The DGP elaborated that various internal inputs suggested the documentary, which features dramatised portrayals, real-life footage, and specific narratives, posed a significant risk of glorifying organised crime and notorious criminals. Such depictions have the potential to mislead the youth and disturb the hard-earned peace of the state.
Ministry’s Thorough Examination
Acting swiftly on these reports, the Punjab Police approached the ministry, which serves as the designated nodal agency for OTT content in India. Following a thorough examination of the entire material, the ministry concurred with the assessment and issued an advisory to the OTT platform, directing them not to release the content on its platform.
This decision underscores the government’s commitment to preventing content that could glorify criminal activities and ensuring that OTT platforms adhere to responsible content guidelines. The advisory aims to protect the youth from being influenced by narratives that romanticise crime and to preserve the social harmony of the state.
