Chandigarh: Gurdwaras across rural Punjab are sending out a warning for parents that they should keep a close watch on children, their social media activity and the company they keep on the internet.
In border districts, including Amritsar and Gurdaspur, announcements were heard at multiple gurdwaras on Saturday, urging parents to monitor who their children interact with on social media, watch for suspicious behaviour and remain alert to possible signs of drug use.
The police-backed initiative comes amid growing concerns that children are increasingly being used as couriers for drugs and illegal arms consignments. Investigators are also worried about Pakistan-based handlers using social media platforms to identify and target vulnerable youngsters.
Senior Punjab Police officials had earlier told NDTV that juveniles are becoming an easy target for cross-border handlers because they can be recruited through online platforms and face comparatively lenient legal consequences under the juvenile justice system.
The warning comes at a time when videos of youngsters consuming drugs have also been surfacing on social media, adding to public concern over the reach of the drug network among Punjab's youth.
Police say the threat is no longer confined to traditional smuggling routes. Social media has emerged as a new recruitment channel, allowing handlers sitting across the border to establish contact with vulnerable children and youth, lure them into criminal activity and eventually use them to move consignments.
With gurdwaras now joining the awareness effort, the message to parents is clear: watch the phone, watch the company and don't ignore sudden changes in a child's behaviour.
