New Delhi: Earlier this week, the Uttar Pradesh Police took to its Twitter and Facebook handles to share the popular train sequence ending of Dilwale Dulhania Le Jayenge (DDLJ). This unusual tweet was not for entertainment alone but the police force’s way of telling people why boarding or alighting a moving train can be dangerous.
The UP Police have turned to Twitter and Facebook in order to connect and engage with people, create awareness and promote initiatives. They have recently begun sharing scenes and posters from popular Bollywood movies for their public awareness campaigns.
ㅤㅤㅤㅤसिमरन और राज ने क्या गलती की ? pic.twitter.com/zpOHBMkPBU
— UP POLICE (@Uppolice) February 3, 2021
In the video on DDLJ, the UP Police tweeted in Hindi saying: “What mistake did Simran (played by actor Kajol Devgn) and Raj (played by Shah Rukh Khan) make? For Simran to live her life (referring to a popular dialogue from the movie), it is important that she is alive.”
The video then goes on to explain the dangers of boarding a moving train.
Similarly, to raise awareness on wearing helmets, the UP Police punned on the poster of Jab We Met, starring Kareena Kapoor Khan and Shahid Kapoor.
ㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤ देन वी आर सेफ़ pic.twitter.com/FbFr0jbVcp
— UP POLICE (@Uppolice) February 2, 2021
Speaking to ThePrint, Additional Director General (ADG), Law and Order, Prashant Kumar, who also heads the social media department, said, “The social media cell of UP Police has been activated to resolve public grievances, periodic campaigns on socially relevant issues and to counter fake news. A dedicated team, lead by gazetted officers, monitors it 24*7.”
Additional SP, Anti-Terrorism Squad, Rahul Srivastava, who also looks after the social media handles of the UP Police, explained that they had used Bollywood movies in its campaigns on women’s safety earlier too. “This time, it is being done in a more organised manner. And we are using web series and Bollywood movies as they connect with people and the engagement is a lot more.”
Besides the official UP Police handles, the social media team also has a Women Power Line that works towards creating awareness on issues such as consent and women’s safety.
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‘Jab helmet lagaya toh darna kya‘
On 31 January, the UP Police had used a scene from the popular song ‘Jab pyar kiya toh darna kya‘ from Mughal-E-Azam film to raise awareness on wearing of helmets, as well as the need to carry one’s driving licence and necessary documents while driving.
ㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤ पेपर और डी.एल. के साथ
#TrafficAlert #TrafficCopSeDarnaKya pic.twitter.com/u8KxIp6AZg
— UP POLICE (@Uppolice) January 31, 2021
The police force has also used some popular memes, such as those associated with US Senator Bernie Sanders during the inauguration ceremony of US President Joe Biden.
A Bernie meme was tweeted 29 January by the UP Police to raise awareness on crimes against women.
STOP BEING CASUAL
RAISE YOUR VOICE
Report #CrimeAgainstWomen at 112/ 1090 pic.twitter.com/T1HcZM1CNW
— UP POLICE (@Uppolice) January 29, 2021
In another post, the UP Police shared a song from Shah Rukh, Juhi Chawla and Sunny Deol-starrer Darr to emphasis on the importance of consent.
ㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤ किरन की ना का मतलब ? pic.twitter.com/jA5gfcnp4t
— UP POLICE (@Uppolice) January 28, 2021
Users have noticed the videos and evoked positive reactions, with many posting messages appreciating the force’s effort to connect with the people through social media to raise awareness on issues such as traffic rules, crimes against women and others.
पहले मुम्बई पुलिस अब up पुलिस pic.twitter.com/v7QjP16lF1
— ????ℑ???ℌ ?ℌ?ℌ??? (@shahjinesh620) January 29, 2021
Creative up police ?? https://t.co/34f2jQQVzB
— THE EM DOCTOR (@beinglegend007) February 4, 2021
Now UP POLICE became INNOVATIVE POLICE ? https://t.co/qHoI9fj7oK
— मनीष Anand TAF (@ManeeshAnand1) February 2, 2021
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