Jail Term: 3 Years per SMS

Deputy Commissioner of Police (Detective Department) J Satyanarayana on Wednesday warned that persons who circulate any SMS which spreads rumours or hatred between communities would be severely punished.

Appealing to the general public not to believe any hate-SMS, especially during the Ganesh Visarjan procession and the forthcoming verdict of the Babri Masjid title suit slated for September 24, Mr Satyanarayana said that circulators of such messages would be imprisoned and also fined.

He said that there is a possibility of some mischievous elements taking advantage of the people’s worries and start circulating SMSs which could instill hatred, create tension and enmity between the two major communities.

Mr Satyanarayana appealed to the public in the city and the state that if anybody receives such SMSs from known or unknown person, they should note down the phone number from which it was sent and also delete the SMS. He added that the receivers should also inform the nearest police station.

He also warned that if anyone circulates or forwards such SMS to any other person or keeps it on the 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 fine, for 504 IPC is imprisonment for 2 years with fine and for 505 IPC is imprisonment for 3 years with fine.

He further added that a part from this punishment, the accused will not be issued passport and barred from getting Government jobs and jobs in corporate companies.