Psychiatrists, cops worried over youths posting photos with guns on social media

PRAYAGRAJ: The photographs and videos of youths posing with firearms on social media in Prayagraj, Kaushambi and Pratapgarh districts have worried psychiatrists and cops, who are alert and on their toes, to check such irresponsible and violent behavior among teenagers.

After a series of such photographs and videos surfaced on social media recently, police are on alert over this trend and have also made several arrests during the last few weeks.

On Tuesday, Puramufti police arrested half a dozen youths whose photographs with firearms went viral. All of the youths are in age group of 20 to 24 and have borrowed firearms of their relatives to click a photograph which has finally landed them in jail. Earlier, Kaushambi police had taken action against a youth who had posed with around a dozen licensed firearms.

SP (Crime) Ashutosh Mishra said, “Social media cell of police is on alert and action will be taken against those who are posing with firearms on social sites. While many youths have passion for firearms and pose with them just for fun, there are many who have the motive of increasing their influence and terrorize people around them.”

Meanwhile, psychiatrists are also concerned over increasing number of such incidents and passion for weapons among youths. They believe that besides popular culture, the violent movies and games are also responsible for this growing trend.

Senior psychiatrist at Colvin Hospital, Dr Rakesh Paswan says that adolescents go through psychological changes during which they often deviate from their paths. Youths in this age want to get noticed. This phase of life is referred as identity versus role confusion, he said.

“In a bid to establish their influence among people in the society, youths often choose the wrong path and show aggressive behavior. If not attended, such activities often result in serious issues later. Moreover, popular culture in the society along with movies and violent games are also playing big role behind such behavior,” he added.