Image Courtesy: siasat.com
The Cyberabad Police found itself in a soup, minutes after it replied to a Twitter user, Suresh Kochattil who asked if the Cyberabad force was conducting background checks in American software companies citing that many ‘wannabe jihadis’ worked there.
https://twitter.com/kochattil/
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
— Suresh Kochattil (@kochattil) January 6, 2020
The Cyberabad Police replied with the following response.
https://twitter.com/
Yes sir… We have specialised wings for collection of advance intel and our teams are on the job 24X7. Thanks for alerting us. Please keep us updated if you find anything suspicious.
— Cyberabad Police (@cyberabadpolice) January 6, 2020
Soon after, not only politicians and activists, but even the general public, began to question the police for implicitly endorsing Suresh’s partisan views against a particular community. Facing the heat, the Cyberabad police issued a statement to the Telangana DGP clarifying its reply to Kochattil.
https://twitter.com/
@TelanganaDGP pic.twitter.com/8qmg53jmGV
— Cyberabad Police (@cyberabadpolice) January 8, 2020
However, the people wouldn’t have it. From questioning how the Cyberabad police defined ‘wannabe jihadis’, what exactly they were monitoring, and why they hadn’t booked Kochattil for what constituted as hate speech instead, the angry Twitterati alleged that the police was indulging in the religious profiling of certain communities.
https://twitter.com/
@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? https://t.co/uEMhF7Or2v— Asaduddin Owaisi (@asadowaisi) January 8, 2020
https://twitter.com/Shehla_
Hi @cyberabadpolice @cpcybd can you provide legal definitions of “wannabe Jehadis”, “peacefuls” & “suspicious”?
What exactly is it that you are monitoring?
What kind of intel do you collect on Indian software professionals, and what does that have to do with Iran-US relations? pic.twitter.com/jKrblRcgTu
— Shehla Rashid (@Shehla_Rashid) January 8, 2020
https://twitter.com/
@KTRTRS There are psychological impacts on people who are routinely called terrorist and for being under suspicion for no reason.The Islamophobic tweet to @cyberabadpolice and their plant response enables these discriminatory biases. Please read attached. pic.twitter.com/TNIIFW6v1Y
— indohistoricus (@indohistoricus) January 9, 2020
https://twitter.com/yehlog/
India’s Cyberabad Police, based in Hyderabad & headed by @cpcybd, was told by Hindutva fascists to conduct religious profiling of Muslims working in the IT sector. It not only obliged, but hinted that it was already doing so. Let the world know https://t.co/a1WmqtAJVS
— Yeh Log ! (@yehlog) January 8, 2020
https://twitter.com/
What i just read? ?what is meant by jihadist and peacefuls?
Your response to this bigot shows how police encourage hatred and communalism.
Instead of booking him for his hate to justify and thanking him.slow claps ??#shame #cp_??— zubbu aayan (@zuberpasha33) January 8, 2020
https://twitter.com/
I hope the @cyberabadpolice continues to respond to people’s queries and answer how they encountered 4 accused without trial as fast as they respond to bigotry. https://t.co/X8dsfQz2g2
— Srinivas Kodali (@digitaldutta) January 8, 2020
https://twitter.com/
Yes @cyberabadpolice if you really want people to believe that you are not biased against a particular community please delete the tweet and report the person. https://t.co/GcYHcNanYd
— Nida (@TawakkkalAllah) January 9, 2020
Twitterati alleged that instead of reprimanding Kochattil, the police ended up encouraging his inflammatory thoughts; especially at a time when the country’s minorities are gripped with the fear of being branded as ‘outcasts’ in their own country.
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