‘Kaam hai, number bhej do’ — gangs hire online, police chase shadows

Criminal and extremist networks are using social media for recruitment, intimidation, and the circulation of illegal content, posing growing challenges for law enforcement agencies in Delhi and beyond.

A scroll through certain Facebook groups and online communities reveals posts glorifying gangsters, promoting criminal identities, and, in some instances, allegedly facilitating contact between users seeking illegal activities. During its reporting, Patriot identified multiple such groups and pages where users openly praised gang leaders and discussed unlawful activities.

The publication has withheld the names of specific groups, pages, and handles because of the sensitive nature of the content and concerns that disclosure could aid further circulation or recruitment.

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Recruitment networks

Last week, the name of Pakistan-based gangster Shahzad Bhatti surfaced repeatedly in multiple Indian investigations linked to alleged terror recruitment, radicalisation, and espionage activities. More than a dozen cases have reportedly been registered against him.

Operating out of Dubai and travelling frequently across West Asia, the Lahore-born gangster has emerged as a priority target for Indian security agencies seeking his extradition. However, officials noted that the process is complicated by the fact that Bhatti is a Pakistani national who has never set foot in India, allowing him to exploit jurisdictional gaps.

Security agencies also fear he could seek protection from Pakistan’s Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) if extradition efforts intensify.

According to investigators, Bhatti’s alleged recruitment network primarily targets vulnerable young people across several Indian states through social media, offering financial incentives and projecting criminal influence as a form of power.

Investigators further alleged that the network operates through “disposable modules”, where recruits are allegedly used for limited assignments before being abandoned.

Bhatti’s name first gained prominence following a March 2024 grenade attack in Jalandhar. Since then, investigators have linked his network to several high-profile criminal cases, including the October 2024 killing of politician Baba Siddique in Mumbai.

Recent multi-state arrests by the Delhi Police Special Cell allegedly uncovered plots targeting a prominent temple in Delhi, a military camp in Haryana, and a highway eatery.

Officials claimed Bhatti’s network may involve operatives spread across multiple countries, prompting coordination among state police forces and intelligence agencies.

Online glorification

However, the use of social media for recruitment is not limited to extremist or terror-linked organisations. Similar patterns are visible among online groups that function as fan pages dedicated to gangsters operating in Delhi-NCR.

During reporting, Patriot identified at least 10 such groups with hundreds of users where posts praising gangsters were being actively circulated.

In one such group, users could be seen searching for alleged “asli” gangsters. While some posts received no responses, several others attracted replies from anonymous accounts quoting prices or asking users to continue conversations privately.

One user wrote: “Koi kaam karna chahe to number bhej do (If somebody wants work, send your number).”

Several phone numbers subsequently appeared in the comments, with users allegedly discussing illegal work involving “good money”. Much of the communication later shifted to WhatsApp or private messages, according to screenshots reviewed during reporting.

Another post reviewed by Patriot claimed that “all work” was handled with “professionalism and secrecy” and urged “serious people only” to contact administrators privately.

One of the groups reviewed by Patriot, with more than 200 members, was named after a deceased Delhi gangster and featured tribute posts praising the outlaw following his death in an inter-gang rivalry.

Crime and identity

Some accounts also attempted to portray criminal activity through the language of rebellion or resistance. In one instance, a self-proclaimed gang member had created social media avatars using the names of freedom fighters Bhagat Singh, Rajguru, and Sukhdev.

Much of the online activity framed gang culture through themes of struggle, loyalty, and anti-establishment identity.

During reporting, Patriot also spoke to a former gang member whose involvement allegedly began under similar circumstances.

Aman, whose name has been changed, now works as a mechanic in Old Delhi. He said his involvement with organised crime began after he was jailed in a theft case nearly five years ago.

“I was caught stealing and landed in jail. Once you are incarcerated, survival becomes a struggle,” he said.

According to Aman, many inmates relied on gang members for protection inside prisons.

“They are the ones who run the show. That often determines whether someone joins a gang or not. For protection, joining a gang becomes the only option,” he said.

Aman claimed he was once associated with members linked to the Neeraj Bawana gang.

Police concerns

After being released from jail, Aman said he continued working with gang members for some time before eventually leaving.

“Earlier, recruitment through social media was almost unheard of. But now, because gangs want more young recruits, social media recruitment has increased significantly,” he said.

According to a senior Delhi Police officer, monitoring criminal activity online is far more difficult than tracking gang recruitment inside prisons.

“It is extremely difficult to monitor people on social media because there are countless groups, some with hundreds of members. Tracking every individual is a major challenge, but we try our best,” the officer said.

He added that Delhi Police had repeatedly requested Meta to remove or block several such groups.

“Some groups are private, which makes monitoring more difficult,” he said.

Officials said many groups had already been blocked in India following takedown requests from law enforcement agencies. However, users often bypass restrictions through Virtual Private Networks (VPNs).

Recruitment efforts are not limited to older organised gangs either. According to sources, gangs operating in outer Delhi and neighbouring Haryana allegedly lure younger recruits through expensive gifts, luxury lifestyles, and exposure to firearms.

“Social media is actively used to intimidate and influence young people towards criminal activity. Weapons are displayed online to project dominance among rival groups and to attract youth into what is perceived as ‘cool’,” police said in a recent media statement.

In a recent extortion-linked firing incident in Rohini, investigators alleged that several first-time offenders had been recruited through similar inducements.

Earlier this year, Delhi Police’s Special Cell identified 25 active organised crime gangs operating across the Capital, leading Police Commissioner Satish Golchha to order a wider crackdown targeting gang networks, associates, and alleged financiers.

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