The police has warned the public against posting videos, photos and comments about the violence in the twin cities on YouTube, Facebook and other networking sites. Several videos of the communal riots have been uploaded on YouTube and Facebook and many networking sites are flooded with photographs and inflammatory comments. Police found that the attacks in Madannapet and Saidabad were videographed using mobile phones and have been posted on YouTube.
Local political leaders are also distributing emails with objectionable photographs of victims and violent scenes to the media and locals. The Sangareddy violence was sparked by material posted on Facebook which allegedly hurt the sentiments of a section of people.
West Zone DCP M. Stephen Ravindra said, “If anyone posts videos or photos on social networking sites or blogs to instigate communal hatred we will take book cases under Indian Penal Code and Information Technology Act. Social networking sites are for communicating good things and not for whipping up religious hatred.” Under Section 66 A of the IT Act a three year punishment is mandated for sending offensive messages using the Net. The Act prohibits sending objectionable text, image, audio, video and any other electronic material using the net. Section 295 A of IPC says that any deliberate act intended to hurt religious sentiments is punishable with a jail term of up to three years or a fine or both.