Why are Delhi cops watching Instagram Reels for hours every day?
What if scrolling reels could solve crimes? Delhi Police is doing exactly that—using Instagram algorithms to trace gang activity and plan real-world crackdowns. Here is all you need to know.
Delhi Police officers have developed a new digital strategy: using Instagram to monitor gang activity. Officers now spend two hours daily on the platform, not for entertainment, but for surveillance. Every reel and post is a potential lead.
“We train the Instagram algorithm to show us gang-related content—just like how one food video can change your feed,” a police officer told The Times of India. By following specific types of accounts, police gain access to more gang-linked content over time.
According to media reports, they look for usernames with “302” — the Indian Penal Code section for murder — and hashtags like #TilluGang, #LawrenceBishnoi, and #Bawaniya. These are strong indicators of gang affiliations, according to DCP Nidhin Valsan (Outer North).
Once an account is flagged, officers study its followers, tagged locations, and posts. They look for clues such as guns, gang symbols, or bios stating “Tillu Bhai Zindabad” or “Gogi Bhai Forever.” These signs often point to networks involved in criminal activity.
The content often links back to physical places such as highways, parks in Narela, and stadiums in Bawana. Officers then verify this intelligence on the ground and take action under the Arms Act.
During raids, police seize mobile phones and uncover WhatsApp groups, hidden videos, and even arms deals. Some suspects even contact the fake profiles operated by police, offering to join gangs or display their weapons.
DCP Sachin Sharma said the department now plans to use artificial intelligence to detect firearm images more quickly and on a wider scale. They are also working with social media platforms to deactivate accounts that promote gun culture.
“Our goal is to stop the glorification of weapons and prevent others from joining the cycle,” Sharma added.
