NEW DELHI: Security agencies are closely monitoring a growing network of social media accounts allegedly operated by Khalistan-linked gangsters, who are increasingly using displays of wealth and luxury to attract young recruits in Punjab and Haryana.
According to officials, these accounts -- run either by gangsters or their associates -- frequently showcase images of extravagant lifestyles, including high-end vehicles, designer clothing, and sprawling residences. Investigators believe this curated online persona is part of a calculated recruitment strategy aimed at drawing in impressionable youth.
With the Khalistan ideology gaining no traction among the younger generation, this appears to be the new way to lure them. Security agencies have learnt that in recent weeks, there has been a surge in such content. This has led the authorities to intensify vigilance on the chats that are taking place on social media platforms.
So far, the agencies have learnt that during these chats, the gangster-controlled social media accounts are luring the youth with the dream of a rich lifestyle. They tell the youth that if they join the network, then they too can afford such a rich lifestyle with fancy cars and bikes, flashy clothes and massive houses. An official said that it is a strategy that is likely to work for the Khalistan-backed gangster network. The youth tend to get drawn in easily as most of them want to lead a fancy lifestyle with plenty of money, the official added.