Lawrence Bishnoi, a well-known gangster whose name has become synonymous with criminal infamy in India, has recently found his image plastered on T-shirts being sold online. Bishnoi’s notoriety rose due to his involvement in organized crime and high-profile threats, including those against Bollywood star Salman Khan and the recent murder of politician Baba Siddiqui in Mumbai. In the criminal underworld, Bishnoi has garnered a kind of popularity, but his image now appearing on merchandise is alarming, to say the least.
Journalist Alishan Jafri recently highlighted that platforms like Meesho and Teeshopper are selling T-shirts featuring Bishnoi’s photo with the words “Gangster” and “Real Hero” boldly printed. The products are shockingly cheap, priced as low as Rs 168, and are even available for children.
According to Jafri, this kind of merchandise is more than just a fad – it’s a concerning sign of “India’s online radicalisation” where the glamorization of gang culture is being spread to wider audiences, including young people.
People are literally selling gangster merchandise on platforms like @Meesho_Official and Teeshopper. This is just one example of India’s latest online radicalisation.
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1/n pic.twitter.com/vzjXM360q3— Alishan Jafri (@alishan_jafri) November 4, 2024
Apart from Lawrence, you can also buy Durlabh Kashyap t-shirts. pic.twitter.com/r3OTOclGot
— Alishan Jafri (@alishan_jafri) November 4, 2024
Several people online slammed these online platforms for selling gangster merchandise and in the process, participating in their glorification and imitation. Here’s what they had to say:
Shame on Meesho and similar websites. Shame !
— Shagufta Ahmed (@shagufta1809) November 4, 2024
This should be stopped, we can’t encourage the younger generation to think of this gangster as heroes
— bony (@bonybanerjee90) November 5, 2024
And a kid also wearing a his t shirt. So wrong.
— शितल (@B224Sheetal) November 5, 2024
What is this..plz stop selling it..have some empathy🙏😡
— needmotivation (@alfaalfa122) November 5, 2024
— Jalad sharma (@Jaladsharma) November 5, 2024
Imagine Dawood Ibrahim t-shirt getting sold at meesho
— BeingIndianMuslim (@DarknessEvil10) November 4, 2024
What we need to keep in mind is that the issue here goes beyond selling the product. When children and teens see gangsters like Bishnoi portrayed as heroes, it risks planting the idea that this lifestyle is something to emulate. For many young minds, seeing “gangster merch” can normalize, and even glorify, criminal behavior.
This trend doesn’t just glamorize gangsters. It manipulates leading some down a dangerous path, mistaking crime for heroism.