Karnataka imposes ban on making reels in uniform, which other state did so?

New Delhi: The Bengaluru City Police Commissioner, B Dayananda, stated that action will be taken against police personnel found creating social media reels and shorts while on duty. This decision follows numerous complaints about officers misusing social media to create and upload content during their working hours. Commissioner Dayananda's statement came shortly after he issued a circular addressing the issue. 

Circular issued to reinforce discipline

The circular emphasized that creating reels in uniform not only constitutes indiscipline but also violates department rules. The move came after several incidents where police officers uploaded Instagram reels and YouTube shorts of themselves dancing or acting in uniform.

Integrity of uniform

Commissioner Dayananda stressed the importance of maintaining the integrity and respect associated with the police uniform. "The uniform represents discipline, commitment, and dedication. Acts like creating social media reels damage this image. Any such behavior will be considered a violation of departmental rules," he said. He further added that showcasing artistic talents while in uniform is strictly against the regulations.

🚨 Bengaluru police chief warns officers against posting reels on unrelated topics while in uniform. Such actions are deemed a breach of discipline and undermine the force's professionalism.#Bengaluru #Karnataka #Kannada #Budget2024 #Police #Budget pic.twitter.com/YpBstVvGPv

— Greater Bengaluru Trends (@GreatBengaluru) July 23, 2024

Social media wing to monitor activity

To enforce these rules, the Bengaluru police's social media wing has been tasked with monitoring the online activities of police personnel. They will report any violations to senior officials for appropriate action. This proactive measure aims to curb the misuse of social media by ensuring that officers adhere to professional standards even in the digital space.

Monitoring fan pages of history-sheeters

In a related development, the Central Crime Branch (CCB) of Bengaluru police has investigated and found numerous fan pages glorifying history-sheeters. Additional Commissioner of Police (Crime), Chandragupta, ordered a thorough scan of Instagram, Facebook, and YouTube, revealing that many of these pages were managed by minors and students. Approximately 60 fan pages glorifying notorious rowdy sheeters like Wilson Garden Naga, Onte Rohit, Silent Sunil, and Kunigal Giri have been shut down.

Two police sub-inspectors suspended in Ghaziabad

The issue of police misusing social media is not limited to Bengaluru. Recently, two Uttar Pradesh Police sub-inspectors were suspended for making Reels while posing as security officers for a property dealer. Dharmendra Sharma and Ritesh Kumar, stationed at Ankur Vihar police station, filmed the Reels at the office of Sartaz, a property dealer in the Tronica City area of Ghaziabad district. Following the incident, the officers were suspended.