Punjab Police issues 72-hour-ultimatum for removing social media content glorifying weapons

Punjab Police has issued a three-day ultimatum for the people to remove any content glorifying weapons from their social media handles and said that no case will be registered till then.

Punjab Director General of Police (DGP) Gaurav Yadav has asked people living in the state to remove any objectionable content from their social media handles within the next three days to avoid any action against them. In a tweet on Saturday, Gaurav Yadav said: “Appeal to everyone to voluntarily remove any objectionable content from their social media handles in the next 72 hours.”

“CM Punjab has directed that no FIRs for glorifying weapons will be registered for the next three days in Punjab to allow people to remove content on their own,” the Punjab DGP tweeted.

The move comes in the wake of several steps being taken by chief minister Bhagwant Mann to eradicate gun culture in Punjab. A letter has been issued to DGP Gaurav Yadav by Punjab Home Department headed by Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann to forbid public display of firearms and songs glorifying weapons called for a review of all licences issued within three months.

Subsequently, Gaurav Yadav on November 18 ordered a mandatory inspection of the shops, premises and stocks of all the gun houses on a quarterly basis across the state. Gaurav Yadav issued these directions to Inspectors General of Police (IG), Deputy Inspectors General (DIG) of all ranges, all Police Commissioners and senior superintendent of police (SSP) in the state.

All the Police Commissioner and SSPs are also instructed to mandatorily check the shops, premises and stocks of all gun houses falling in their Sub Divisions every quarter.