Amid intense politics over the Dadri lynching incident, the Uttar Pradesh government has directed Twitter to remove objectionable posts and pictures related to the public lynching of a 50-year-old Mohammad Ikhlaq over rumours that his family had consumed and stored beef.

IG (administration) Prakash D said a letter was sent by the social media lab of UP police asking for removal of specific photographs and text uploaded by a Twitter handle.

The letter follows chief minister Akhilesh Yadav’s directive on Sunday to state administration to punish those misusing social media. “The chief minister has directed to take stern action against elements creating disharmony and inciting hatred by circulating baseless content on social media, specially (on) Facebook, WhatsApp and Twitter,” a spokesman said.

Meanwhile, a case was also registered after a controversial Tweet was posted on a Twitter handle operating from Noida, adjoining Delhi, on September 30.

Uttar Pradesh is on the edge since September 28 when a Mohammad Ikhlaq was lynched by a mob and his son injured critically after rumours that they had eaten beef.

Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav had said after the Dadri incident, “notorious elements and communal forces were circulating objectionable content on social media”.

Effective action should be taken and elements spreading rumours should be dealt with strictly by taking immediate cognisance of such cases, he had said. 

Image: The lynching of Mohammad Ikhlaq has created quite a furore with people carrying out protests in different parts of the country. Photograph: PTI