Hyderabad police register 20 cases, warn trolling channels to not post memes insulting public representatives

In December last year, the cops raided the Madhapur office of Congress poll strategist Sunil Kanugolu.

This was over allegations of operating social media pages that posted morphed and derogatory content against Telangana Chief Minister K Chandrashekar Rao.

‘Most trolls are young men’

According to the Deputy Commissioner of Police (Cyber Crimes) Sneha Mehra, some youngsters have been posting highly objectionable, defamatory, and insulting content with morphed videos of some public representatives.

“We believe that their purpose is to increase their subscribers and TRP ratings. Most of them are either studying or have dropped out,” DCP Mehra told South First.

Deputy Commissioner of Police (Cyber Crimes) Sneha Mehra and her team briefing the media persons. (Supplied)

As per the cops, most of the trolls are young men aged between 20 and 30.

The cops added that eight of the 20 trolls have been traced, and necessary legal action is being taken against them.

The cops identified the eight traced trolls as — Attada Srinivasa Rao (Vizianagaram) of TrollerKurradu @trollerkurradu4308, Sirasani Manikanta (Kadapa) of Mr Massabbayi @MrMassabbayi, Baddanj Sravan (Nizamabad) of Yankamma trolls, Motam Srinu (Warangal) of Telugu Trolls New, Peraka Nagavenkata Jyothi Kiran (Krishna) of Chimtu Trolls, Vadluri Naveen (Jagtial) of Team of Trolling Banthipuvvu Trolls, Bolli Chandrashekar (Karimnagar) of Chandu Trolls and Billa Srikanth (Kadapa) of Chevilopuvvu

“They have been issued notice under CrPC Section 41 A, so their arrests have not been done so far,” Mehra said.

Also read: Sunil Kanugolu appears before Hyderabad police

‘Exercise caution else face action’

The cops noted that the positing of objectionable content amounted to a violation of various sections of the Indian Penal Code (IPC) and the Information Technology Act.

“Such attraction and craze of trolling in the long term can lead to and promote even indecency and encourage lawlessness among youth,” said the DCP.

Meanwhile, the police have warned the owners and uploaders of trolling channels not to share any trolls or memes that could be deemed outrageous, abusive, indecent, or an attack on the modesty of women in general and any individual in specific.

“Necessary action shall be initiated against all such trollers,” the cops said.

Also read: Teenmaar Mallanna office attacked; BJP blames BRS