Jailed gangsters keep up social media presence

NEWDELHI: “I can avenge my brother’s murder if you take me in your gang.”

“Inbox me your number,” reads the reply.

This is the Facebook ‘wall’ of Delhi’s top gangster, Neeraj Bawana.

“Ram Ram Pehalwan,” a man recording a video greets wrestler-turned-gangster Tillu Tajpuriya, who is seen leaving a court room. Tajpuriya, surrounded by a dozen armed cops, waves to the man. The ten-second video on Facebook has over 275,000 views.

Nitu Dabodia was one of Delhi’s most-wanted gangsters until his death in a police encounter four years ago. But his Facebook account is active even today. There are snaps of the latest newspaper reports about the man. “All the gangsters miss you brother,” a comment below his photograph reads.

This is the social media of Delhi’s underworld. Some of the most dreaded names in Delhi police files are online, active and viral on Facebook. The men have photographs with guns, their molls and partying with friends.

Most city dons have their own pages – and ‘fan’ pages, though it is not quite clear who operates these accounts. None of the accounts are ‘verified’ accounts.

Some use Facebook to post threats or warn their rivals. Gangster Amit Bhura, who till his arrest carried a ₹12-lakh reward, has his own account. His bio reads – “Amit Malik alias Bhura, the most wanted gangstar (sic).” An old post reads, “Hum samandar hai, khamosh hi rehne do, zara machal jaye toh shehar leke doobengay (I am like the sea, let me stay calm, if I am disturbed, I will drown the city with me).

There are photographs of Bhura’s gang members sporting carbines, rifles and pistols.

It is unclear when or where the photographs were taken. Delhi police officials say the accounts are run by aides of the gangsters.

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