Deputy Commissioner of Police (Detective Department) J Satyanarayana, on Wednesday, warned that persons who circulate any SMS spreading rumours or hatred among communities would be severely punished.
Appealing to the general public not to believe in any hate-SMS, especially during the Ganesh Visarjan procession and the forthcoming verdict of the Babri Masjid title suit slated on September 24th, Satyanarayana said that circulators of such messages would be imprisoned and fined as well.
The DCP said that there is a possibility of certain mischievous elements taking advantage of people's worries and circulating SMSes that could instill hatred and create tension and enmity between the two major communities.
Satyanarayana said that if anybody receives such an SMS from a known or unknown person, the phone number from which it was sent must be noted down, that recipients must inform the nearest police station.
The DCP also warned that if anyone who circulates or forwards such SMSes to any other person, or even retains it in mobile phone memory, is liable for punishment under section 66 "A" ITAA 2008 and 504 and 505 IPC.
The DCP revealed that the punishment for 66-A ITAA 2008 is imprisonment for 3 years with a fine, that for 504 IPC is imprisonment for 2 years with a fine, and the punishment for 505 IPC is imprisonment for 3 years with a fine.
Satyanarayana further added that as a part of this punishment, the accused will not be issued an Indian passport, and will also be barred from getting jobs in the government and in corporate companies.
Courtesy: INN
filed in:Hyderabad Police, DCP, Babri Masjid Title Suit Verdict, Ganesh Immersion