Bengaluru: Members of a gang led by Bharath, lodged in Parappana Agrahara Central Prison, sport a scorpion on their biceps, those of other gangs sport either a star, a horse or a snake on their forearms or neck in line with an international practice of wearing ‘identity’ tattoos to announce loyalties.
 
Discovered by Additional Commissioner of Police (Law and Order) Alok Kumar during a routine parade when nearly 50 history-sheeters were summoned to a public ground in Rajgopal Nagar on Friday morning for questioning, this is a growing trend among newly formed gangs it appears.

“I noticed that many budding rowdies from Rajgopal Nagar were sporting tattoos on their necks and forearms. Many had similar tattoos on the same parts of the body,” Alok Kumar said.

“This is a serious issue. Such budding gangs have to be destroyed to nip the menace in the bud. All those sporting such tattoos have been detained and are being questioned. We have asked the boys to erase the tattoos. We are also trying to track down the tattoo artist,” said a senior police officer.