Take immediate action against fame hungry stuntmen

The police said Armaan Khurshid Shaikh is known for making dramatic videos

The Government Railway Police have arrested a young man from Ghatkopar who allegedly made a video sitting dangerously close to the tracks. The video shows its protagonist or stuntman pointing a gun to his head and, what looks like, crying. The clip has gone viral though.

We live a double life now, especially youngsters who inhabit two worlds, the real and an online space. Many times, the latter seems much more alluring and has great aspirational value.

This is the reason these stunts need to be taken seriously and off the online space. They have the potential and very often do, inspire copycat actions.

In the past too, we have seen railway stunts showing people hanging out of compartments holding the pole, swinging half outside from the door handles and several others posted by stuntmen, usually young men, in order to garner likes on social media and their quick two minutes of fame.

At that time too, several of these stunts had gone viral. While most know it is wrong, the thrill of getting all those hits and likes in the virtual world, to become a star even for the wrong reasons on social media is simply too much of a lure. There will be the inevitable, we can do this and get away with it too, young people who will be grievously injured or lose their lives, as it has happened in the past.

This is the reason that such acts are nipped in the bud and these supposed heroics are slammed, for they are foolish at best and criminal at worst.

Thankfully the railway police have arrested the person in the latest stunt video, sending out a message that these acts mean you may trend for a while, but your longer stay will be in jail.