Published Jun 29, 2026 | 9:24 AM ⚊ Updated Jun 29, 2026 | 9:27 AM
Principal Amer Khan speaking to the media.
Synopsis: After BJP leaders physically assaulted a school in Telangana over allegations that Urdu was being taught to students without their parents’ consent, the Telangana Police directed social media platform X to take down posts on the issue. The order claims that the posts are disturbing public order and creating a serious likelihood of communal tension, unrest, and breach of peace.
A day after a group of BJP leaders physically assaulted a school in Telangana over allegations that Urdu was being taught to students without their parents’ consent, the Telangana Police on Sunday, 28 June, directed social media platform X to take down posts on the issue, claiming that the content violated Indian law.
Deputy Inspector General of Police (DIG) R Bhaaskaran wrote to X asking to remove videos, photographs, posts, and related digital content concerning the incident, claiming that it is disturbing public order and creating a serious likelihood of communal tension, unrest, and breach of peace.
“The said content is being shared widely and, on account of the sensitive communal overtones, has the potential to inflame passions, provoke retaliatory
reactions, and adversely affect law and order in the district and adjoining areas,” he said in the letter.
Activists and journalists slammed the action, pointing out that instead of taking action against the perpetrators, the Telangana government is “shooting the messenger”.
They questioned how the reporting of an incident violated the law.
Also Read: BJP leaders assault Telangana principal over Urdu classes as police watch
In his letter, Bhaaskaran asked X to remove 41 posts, including one by South First, describing the incident. He issued the take-down order under Section 79(3)(b) of the IT Act, 2000 and Rule 3(1)(d) of the IT (Intermediary Guidelines and Digital Media Ethics Code) Rules, 2021.
He claimed that the content of the posts fell under the classifications of “harmful to minors,” “threatens the unity, integrity, defense, security, or sovereignty of India, friendly relations with foreign states, or public order,” or “promotes enmity between different groups on the grounds of religion, region, caste, community, or any other ground whatsoever”.
The officer also asked the platform to preserve all the data regarding the posts.
“You are further directed to preserve all relevant records relating to the impugned content, including but not limited to URLs, account details, username history, IP logs, device logs, registration data, timestamps, forwarding chains, moderation history, and any other associated metadata, so that the same may be produced before the investigating agency/court as and when required,” he said.
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Responding to the order, journalist Mubashir Khurram questioned what exactly triggered police action.
“I posted about Urdu language, quoted Gulzar, Brij Narayan Chakbast, Jagannath Azad, and Anand Narayan Mulla all non-Muslim lovers of Urdu.
Question: Since when did literary quotes become illegal in India? I neither abused anyone, nor threatened anyone, nor incited violence. I only raised concern over attacks on Urdu teachers and declining space for Urdu. So what exactly triggered police action?” he asked in a post on X.
Fact-checker and AltNews co-founder Mohammed Zubair tagged Telangana Chief Minister A Revanth Reddy, notifying the action.
“So Hyderabad Police @hydcitypolice sent an email asking X to remove my tweet claiming that this content violates Indian law,” he posted.
Telangana-based journalist Revathi said the state government is “shooting the messenger”.
“I collect these notices like a hobby! Latest is from Hyderabad police for posting on the Armoor issue where an Urdu teacher was slapped and abused by BJP leaders in the presence of a police officer for teaching Urdu. The honourable Telangana Police sent a take down notice to X saying my tweet content -“disturbing public order, and creating serious likelihood of communal tension, unrest and breach of peace”! Not the action of the BJP leaders who slapped a teacher. Not the action of the police inspector who decided to play a mute spectator! But my TWEET!!! Shooting the messenger, Telangana style,” she wrote on X.
