NEW DELHI, February 16, 2026 — India is witnessing a jarring divide in civic responsibility this week. While some citizens have sparked nationwide outrage by desecrating national symbols and openly defying state laws for social media clout, others are being taught the value of discipline through strict local enforcement.
From a courtroom in Bihar to the pristine hills of Sikkim, here is how the battle for “civic sense” is playing out across the country.
The Disgrace: National Hero Insulted in Bihar Court
A wave of anger swept across social media after a video surfaced from a Bihar court complex showing a man urinating on a mural of the legendary freedom fighter, Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose.
In the footage, a bystander is heard publicly confronting the individual, who appeared indifferent to the gravity of his actions. “Do you even know whose portrait this is?” the witness asks, pointing to the mural. The incident has been widely condemned as a “new low” for public decorum, with many demanding strict legal consequences for the desecration of a national icon within the very premises of the judiciary.
The “Rose Day” Raid: Clout vs. The Law
In Munger, Bihar, a social media influencer identified as Kanchan Devi learned that “likes” do not equate to legal immunity. Celebrating Rose Day on February 7, Devi posted a video to her 300,000 followers showing her gifting her husband a rose, followed by a glass of wine and a bottle of liquor.
Because Bihar is a dry state, the public promotion of alcohol is a serious criminal offense. The situation escalated when a separate photo surfaced of Devi brandishing a pistol inside a beauty parlour.
- The Fallout: Munger SP Syed Imran Masood formed a Special Investigation Team (SIT) and conducted a raid on the couple’s home.
- The Charges: An FIR has been registered against Devi and the licensed owner of the pistol, Vishal Kumar. Authorities emphasized that while the weapon was legal, allowing an unauthorized person to “flaunt” it on social media is a violation of the Arms Act.
The Discipline: Sikkim’s Zero-Tolerance Policy
While Bihar dealt with misconduct, Sikkim provided a masterclass in law enforcement. A viral video from North Sikkim showed local police intercepting a tourist who had been littering orange peels along a scenic highway.
Rather than just issuing a fine, the officers made the tourist get out of the vehicle and pick up every piece of litter in front of onlookers. The video has been hailed as a “wake-up call” for domestic travelers, with netizens praising the Sikkim police for protecting their state’s ecology through immediate, on-the-spot accountability.
The Bottom Line
The events of the week highlight a growing “clout culture” where the desire for viral attention often overrides civic duty and legal boundaries. However, as seen in Sikkim and Munger, the authorities are increasingly using the same social media platforms to send a clear message: civic sense is not optional, and the law is watching.
