Campaign against fake videos and rumours

After the brutal lynching of a transgender beggar in Hyderabad and a similar attack on three transgender people in Zaheerabad town in Telangana, the police have launched a public awareness campaign to counter rumours and fake videos on social media including WhatsApp.

One beggar was killed and three others were injured when a frenzied mob attacked them in Chandrayangutta area of Hyderabad mistaking them to be a gang of child lifters. Three transgenders were targeted in Zaheerabad in a similar manner after the rumours and viral videos on social media caused panic among the people.

Hyderabad police have arrested 26 people in connection with Chandrayangutta incident and issued a stern warning against those spreading the rumours.

Seven arrested

Zaheerabad police inspector Satyanarayana said seven people were arrested in connection with the attack on three transgender beggars in town on the intervening night of Saturday and Sunday.

In both the incidents, timely intervention of the police saved the lives of the victims of the attacks. In Hyderabad, the mob attack also left two policemen injured.

To counter the rumours circulating over the social media for a fortnight, Telangana police have deployed police constables and drum beaters to go around and inform the people in the villages and the city that the rumours about gangs of child lifters and robbers roaming around were false.