Spend enough time scrolling through Instagram and you might come across a reel where a teenager shows off a pistol, tags a gangster’s name, and sprinkles emojis for effect. In this edgy corner of social media, where hashtags glorify criminals and firearms are flaunted for likes, the Delhi Police is pushing back—with smartphones, algorithms, and an understanding of how the platform works.
In the capital’s Outer North district, police officers spend two hours each day on Instagram—not for leisure, but as part of a digital surveillance strategy. Every scroll is deliberate, every reel a potential lead, said a report by Devanshi Mehta in The Times of India.
“While most people use Instagram to watch reels or check updates, we intentionally consume content from specific types of accounts,” a police officer told ToI. “It’s like training the app to think we’re interested in gang activity. It works the same way as how one food video can flood your feed with more of the same. We use that same mechanism to identify individuals involved in gun-related content.”
Red flags, Hashtags, and followers
Officers begin by identifying common red flags, such as Instagram usernames featuring “302”—a reference to Section 302 of the Indian Penal Code, which pertains to murder. “It’s not just a number, it’s a signal. Those who flaunt 302 in their handles imply they’ve committed or are associated with serious crimes,” said Nidhin Valsan, DCP (Outer North).
Hashtags also offer clues. Just like #food or #travel clusters content around specific interests, tags like #TilluGang, #HimanshuBhau, #LawrenceBishnoi, and #Bawaniya link users to well-known gang networks.
Once a suspect account is flagged, officers dig deeper—reviewing followers, followings, tagged locations and posts. This often leads to the identification of a broader network of individuals either in possession of weapons or showing signs of gangster aspiration. The trail of digital associations is traced in a loop: who the user follows, who follows them, and what content they engage with.
“It’s not just about showing off weapons. These youngsters are after influence, street credibility, and followers,” an officer told ToI. “They idolise gangsters and try to replicate their online persona.” Even Instagram bios can be revealing—slogans like “Tillu Bhai Zindabad” or “Gogi Bhai Forever” are not random tributes. “They are virtual handshakes, signalling allegiance or aspiration,” the officer added.
As the algorithm serves up more targeted content, patterns begin to emerge. Police then work to map these digital trails to real-world locations. “Common locations in the Outer North district include highways, a stadium in Bawana, and parks in Narela,” a senior officer told ToI. Another told, “Similar hotspots have been flagged in Nangloi, Ranhola, and a few other areas.”
Once these physical locations are identified, surveillance is mounted and crackdowns follow. “We cross-check this intelligence with field sources, conduct inspections, and book suspects under the Arms Act,” said an officer.
Technical inputs have become central to the operation. Mobile phones seized during raids often expose entire digital ecosystems—WhatsApp groups negotiating arms deals, new social media accounts, and even unreleased videos. “We’ve recovered everything from country-made pistols to imported firearms just by studying social media content,” said another officer.
Undercover cops have even created fake profiles posing as gang affiliates to bait suspects. In many cases, they don’t even have to make the first move. “People DM us themselves asking how to join or offering to show what weapons they’ve got,” said an officer with a smile.
According to Sachin Sharma, DCP (Outer), the department is now exploring artificial intelligence to scale up these efforts. “AI can be leveraged to detect firearm imagery automatically, allowing us to act faster and on a much wider scale,” he said.
Flashy posts showing off weapons or rash driving rack up high engagement on social media. But the moment individuals involved are identified, police teams move in. “Along with seizing weapons and making arrests, we also write to social media platforms to deactivate such accounts,” Sharma said. “This helps prevent the glorification of gun culture and limits their ability to influence or recruit others.”
With inputs from TOI
In the capital’s Outer North district, police officers spend two hours each day on Instagram—not for leisure, but as part of a digital surveillance strategy. Every scroll is deliberate, every reel a potential lead, said a report by Devanshi Mehta in The Times of India.
“While most people use Instagram to watch reels or check updates, we intentionally consume content from specific types of accounts,” a police officer told ToI. “It’s like training the app to think we’re interested in gang activity. It works the same way as how one food video can flood your feed with more of the same. We use that same mechanism to identify individuals involved in gun-related content.”
Red flags, Hashtags, and followers
Officers begin by identifying common red flags, such as Instagram usernames featuring “302”—a reference to Section 302 of the Indian Penal Code, which pertains to murder. “It’s not just a number, it’s a signal. Those who flaunt 302 in their handles imply they’ve committed or are associated with serious crimes,” said Nidhin Valsan, DCP (Outer North).
Hashtags also offer clues. Just like #food or #travel clusters content around specific interests, tags like #TilluGang, #HimanshuBhau, #LawrenceBishnoi, and #Bawaniya link users to well-known gang networks.
Once a suspect account is flagged, officers dig deeper—reviewing followers, followings, tagged locations and posts. This often leads to the identification of a broader network of individuals either in possession of weapons or showing signs of gangster aspiration. The trail of digital associations is traced in a loop: who the user follows, who follows them, and what content they engage with.
“It’s not just about showing off weapons. These youngsters are after influence, street credibility, and followers,” an officer told ToI. “They idolise gangsters and try to replicate their online persona.” Even Instagram bios can be revealing—slogans like “Tillu Bhai Zindabad” or “Gogi Bhai Forever” are not random tributes. “They are virtual handshakes, signalling allegiance or aspiration,” the officer added.
As the algorithm serves up more targeted content, patterns begin to emerge. Police then work to map these digital trails to real-world locations. “Common locations in the Outer North district include highways, a stadium in Bawana, and parks in Narela,” a senior officer told ToI. Another told, “Similar hotspots have been flagged in Nangloi, Ranhola, and a few other areas.”
Once these physical locations are identified, surveillance is mounted and crackdowns follow. “We cross-check this intelligence with field sources, conduct inspections, and book suspects under the Arms Act,” said an officer.
Technical inputs have become central to the operation. Mobile phones seized during raids often expose entire digital ecosystems—WhatsApp groups negotiating arms deals, new social media accounts, and even unreleased videos. “We’ve recovered everything from country-made pistols to imported firearms just by studying social media content,” said another officer.
Undercover cops have even created fake profiles posing as gang affiliates to bait suspects. In many cases, they don’t even have to make the first move. “People DM us themselves asking how to join or offering to show what weapons they’ve got,” said an officer with a smile.
According to Sachin Sharma, DCP (Outer), the department is now exploring artificial intelligence to scale up these efforts. “AI can be leveraged to detect firearm imagery automatically, allowing us to act faster and on a much wider scale,” he said.
Flashy posts showing off weapons or rash driving rack up high engagement on social media. But the moment individuals involved are identified, police teams move in. “Along with seizing weapons and making arrests, we also write to social media platforms to deactivate such accounts,” Sharma said. “This helps prevent the glorification of gun culture and limits their ability to influence or recruit others.”
With inputs from TOI
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