User claims jihadis active in Hyderabad, cops respond on Twitter

Hyderabad: A seemingly curt reply by the Hyderabad police to a Twitter user opened a floodgate of divergent comments, including from MP Asaduddin Owaisi, on the microblogging site.

It all started after a user by the name Suresh Kochattil wrote, "Many wannabe Jihadis work for American Software companies in Hyderabad? After #Iran threatened to hit US assets, has @hydcitypolice @cyberabadpolice @RachakondaCop done background check/risk assessment of these Peacefuls? Or cops are clueless? @KTRTRS @TelanganaDGP @USCGHyderabad."

Of the many police divisions he tagged, the Cyberabad police responded, "Yes sir… We have specialised wings for collection of advance Intel and our teams are on the job 24×7. Thanks for alerting us. Please keep us updated if you find anything suspicious." This was enough to trigger a war of words.

Parliamentarian Asaduddin Owaisi replied to the Cyberabad police, "@cpcybd sir you say "yes sir" please enlighten how many such "jihadi" are working in software companies kindly give a number if not please clarify what you exactly meant. Will you reply to an MP or only to a Bhakt?"

The police response seemed to surprise many Twitter users who felt the cops were responding to what they called an inciter. "Seriously Hyderabad Police? You will respond to these hate mongers calling fellow citizens as potential terrorists?" asked a user.

Another response read: "How is this reply helpful? Are you agreeing with this fellow, who's spreading communal hatred? Isn't he creating a problem between communities with such tweets? The police has to do it's work, if someone suspicious is found, it's a different matter. Are you relying on such people?"

The barrage of comments prompted Suresh to counter: "Why will the police wait till the Peacefuls bomb a place. Each peaceful is suspect. Be it working in a company or shopping at a mall. They should be thoroughly checked, everytime."

Owaisi, who seemed quite taken back by the cops' tweet, said, "@cpcybd sir whatever you do but no killings in name of "encounter" at 05 am please, if possible arrest & as accepted 3rd degree will be given but pls no cartoons in stomach. CP saheb Terrorism has no religion, (remember NGodse)."

This reply from Owaisi saw him take a dig at the encounter of Disha's rapists as he wrote: "No killings in the name of 'encounter' at 05 am please".

Cyberabad Police Commissioner told Newsmeter, "Yes I'm aware of it and I have asked my team regarding the response." He refused to say anything more on the issue.