Craving for higher engagement and fame in a short span of time, two young men shot video reels while brandishing an illegal weapon and posted them on their WhatsApp status in Kaimur district of Bihar.
Their act did serve the purpose, but eventually landed them behind bars. As the objectionable video started circulating on social media, a person took a screenshot of it and sent it to the local police.
Acting swiftly, the Kaimur Police arrested the duo and recovered the illegal pistol and two smartphones used to shoot the short-duration video reels.
One of the men can be seen brandishing the country-made pistol as the video plays in slow motion.
The accused have been identified as 23-year-old Praveen Kumar Singh, a resident of Sakrouli village in the Mohaniya police station area and his 22-year-old friend Nitesh Kumar, a native of Tiara village under the Ramgarh police station limits.
A team of local police first picked up Praveen based on the inputs. During questioning, he revealed that his friend Nitesh also shot a similar video. Based on his inputs, police nabbed Nitesh and seized the illegal pistol from his residence.
Following a medical examination, they were produced before a local court which sent the duo to judicial custody.
Speaking to the media, Kaimur superintendent of police (SP) Hriday Kant said that he received the screenshot on the evening of March 26.
“I received a message on WhatsApp about the video which was circulating on social media. It showed a youth brandishing a country-made firearm in Mohania area. To verify the authenticity of the video, the deputy superintendent of police in Mohania was sent to the location, where he arrested the youth and his accomplice overnight,” the officer said.
During questioning, the youth admitted that he had shot the video with a firearm to instill fear for him among locals and increase his notoriety in the area. Police have, however, not found any criminal history of the accused.
Issuing an appeal to the general public, the SP said that carrying illegal firearms is a serious offense and can lead to imprisonment, and urged young people not to engage in illegal activities for popularity.
“I want to send a message to the youth that engaging in such activities can tarnish their reputation and that of their families,” said the office. “Instead, they should focus on working hard and building a better future for themselves and their loved ones.”