Popular e-commerce site Meesho is facing criticism after being found to host t-shirts featuring images of notorious gangster Lawrence Bishnoi. Filmmaker Alishan Jafri highlighted the issue on social media, condemning the merchandise as an example of “India’s latest online radicalization.” A post on X (formerly Twitter) displayed the t-shirts, which bear Bishnoi’s image, some even labeled with the word “gangster,” retailing for as low as ₹168. The backlash intensified over concerns that some of the items appear to be aimed at young customers, potentially promoting a harmful influence among impressionable youth.
HAVE A LOOK AT THE VIRAL POST:
People are literally selling gangster merchandise on platforms like @Meesho_Official and Teeshopper. This is just one example of India’s latest online radicalisation.
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1/n pic.twitter.com/vzjXM360q3— Alishan Jafri (@alishan_jafri) November 4, 2024
The Troubling Rise of Gangster Culture in Online Retail
Lawrence Bishnoi, linked to several high-profile crimes, including the murder of Punjabi singer Sidhu Moose Wala and threats against Bollywood actor Salman Khan, has been a prominent figure in India’s criminal landscape. The Bishnoi gang was also allegedly involved in the recent killing of NCP leader Baba Siddique. Jafri pointed out that glorifying such figures could lead to serious consequences, as seen in recent incidents. He mentioned examples like a 15-year-old from Deoria, who reportedly killed his friend after being influenced by gang-related content, and a group of boys in Delhi who formed the “Badnaam Gang” with intentions to publicize their crimes on social media.
Public Outrage and Calls for Accountability
The discovery of Bishnoi-inspired merchandise on Meesho sparked significant backlash online. Social media users expressed anger, with some calling for Meesho’s de-platforming. “Shame on Meesho and similar platforms for promoting gang culture,” one commenter wrote. Another user added, “This gangster culture will destroy India.”
HT.com has reached out to Meesho for a response and will update this article if further information becomes available.