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BENGALURU: A recent spate of incidents involving youths brandishing machetes and performing dangerous stunts in public spaces has raised alarm among law enforcement and mental health professionals.
Last week, Kamakshipalya police arrested two 19-year-olds for brandishing machetes and performing wheelies on a two-wheeler in broad daylight on Magadi Road. Just last month, 11 youths were booked for a similar stunt in and around DJ Halli, where they rode motorbikes at midnight on February 13, displaying swords and machetes while performing wheelies and dragging weapons against the road, a video of which later surfaced online.
In another disturbing incident in March last year, an SSLC student stabbed three Class X students outside an examination hall following a minor altercation. The boy claimed he always carried a long knife in his school bag.
In Iliyasnagar near Banashankari, 18 youths, including minors, were arrested for brandishing weapons during a night celebration held during the festival season.
These incidents, now being reported from different parts of the city, highlight a troubling trend. Police are charging the accused under various sections, including the Arms Act. While minors are being sent to juvenile homes, adult offenders are being remanded to judicial custody in central prison.
City-based psychiatrist Dr Shashidhar Bilagi attributes such behaviour to “self-validation through aggression,” driven by unresolved emotional issues.
“When adolescents display aggressive behaviours such as bullying, physical abuse, animal cruelty, vandalism, or weapon possession, it often stems from an inability to express remorse or empathy. These youths tend to deflect blame, misread neutral situations as threats, and respond with exaggerated aggression. Their risk-taking extends to reckless riding, underage substance use, and online offences such as sexting or gambling,” he said.
Bilagi urged parents and guardians to be vigilant. “Adults must initiate open conversations with their children about the dangers of risky behaviour. Setting boundaries is essential, but so is allowing adolescents some autonomy. If parents are concerned, they should seek professional help from therapists or psychiatrists at local clinics, hospitals, or medical colleges,” he added.