Juvenile held after gun photos on social media; pistol seized
Delhi Police has apprehended a juvenile after photographs showing him brandishing weapons on social media triggered panic in Northwest Delhi’s Mahendra Park area. Police recovered an illegal country-made pistol and two live cartridges from his possession following a late-night operation.
According to Deputy Commissioner of Police, Northwest District, Akanksha Yadav, the action was initiated after several photographs of a young individual displaying firearms and a knife surfaced on social media platforms. The images quickly drew attention due to concerns over public safety and possible threats to law and order.
Senior officers of Mahendra Park police station assigned a special team from Police Post Badhola to identify and apprehend the suspect. Police said the team launched a focused investigation immediately after the photographs came to notice. Informers were activated, and technical surveillance was initiated to track the suspect’s movements.
Officials said extensive field verification and local intelligence gathering were carried out to confirm the identity of the person seen in the viral images. On the intervening night of May 6 and 7, police received specific information that the suspect was moving around the Jhuggi Sarai Pipal Thala area.
A trap was laid after officers quietly positioned themselves around the locality to prevent the suspect from escaping.
Police said the operation was handled carefully because of the congested nature of the area and the possibility of public disturbance. After sustained surveillance, the suspect was spotted in the locality. As police moved in, he allegedly tried to flee through narrow lanes, but officers chased and apprehended him after a brief pursuit. During verification, police confirmed that the apprehended juvenile was the same person who appeared in the photographs circulating online while holding a pistol and a knife. A case under Section 25 of the Arms Act was registered at Mahendra Park police station, and an investigation was launched.
During questioning, the juvenile allegedly admitted his involvement in the incident and informed police that he had hidden the weapon and knife used in the photographs at a secret location. Acting on his disclosure, police conducted a search operation and recovered one illegal country-made pistol along with two live cartridges. Officials said the recovery supported the findings of the investigation and confirmed the authenticity of the social media photographs. Police have not disclosed the age or identity of the juvenile because of legal restrictions related to minors.
Investigators are now trying to determine how the juvenile obtained the weapon and whether he had links to any criminal groups operating in the area. Police are also examining the source of the firearm and the purpose behind posting the photographs online.
Officials said the increasing display of weapons on social media by youngsters has become a matter of concern because such acts create fear among residents and can encourage criminal behaviour. In an appeal issued after the arrest, Delhi Police urged citizens not to promote unlawful activities or circulate photographs involving weapons on social media platforms. Police said such actions disturb public peace and can invite strict legal action.
The force also appealed to residents to immediately report suspicious activity or illegal possession of weapons to the nearest police station or emergency helpline numbers. Further investigation into the case is underway.
