Telangana Govt issues order against spreading rumors about Lambada and adivasis conflict

Telangana, Dec 19: Telangana government has issued a gag order prohibiting the media against publishing and transmitting any information on the ongoing conflict between Adivasis and Lambada tribe in northern Telangana.

In a notice served on the media channels based in Hyderabad late on Saturday night, city police commissioner VV Srinivasa Rao said transmission of information pertaining to the conflict between Adivasis and Lambadas is likely to promote disharmony, hatred, feeling of enmity and ill-will between the two communities.

Though the order did not specifically mention the print media, it said the "publication or transmission of such contents will be a cognisable and non-bailable offence under Section 505 (2) of the IPC", and will also "tantamount to abetment under Section 108 and promotion of enmity between two different groups on grounds of caste and community under Section 153-A of the IPC," the order said.

In further restrictions, the police have suspended internet services in Adilabad, Komaram Bheem and Nirmal districts for the past two days to "curb spreading of rumours" about clashes between the two communities. Mobile phone services, too, were suspended in tribal areas as precautionary measures, police said.