Police in Bihar’s Siwan district have issued a notice to social media platform X seeking the removal of several posts related to the death of a Muslim man, saying the content was misleading and could affect public order.
The notice, issued on June 1 by the Cyber Police Station in Siwan, directed X to block or disable access to specified posts under provisions of the Information Technology Act, 2000 and the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS).
According to the notice, posts on the platform describing the incident as a mob lynching had gone viral and were considered by investigators to be “objectionable, misleading and fact-less”, with the potential to disrupt law and order and lead to loss of life or property.
Police cited three posts in the notice, including one by journalist Meer Faisal, who had reported on the incident. A preliminary assessment found the content to be active on the platform and “prima facie unlawful”, the notice said.
One of the posts highlighted by police included a photograph from the scene and alleged that a police officer was smiling near the body of the deceased.
The notice comes amid public attention over the death of 25-year-old Shahzad Ali in Siwan district. According to accounts given by family members, a group of men allegedly took Ali away from his home before he was later found dead. Police have not publicly released detailed findings on the circumstances of the death.
The notice also referred to posts by another X user and said the content carried implications for public order.
Police warned that failure by X to comply with the order could result in the loss of legal protections available to intermediaries under Section 79 of the Information Technology Act and could invite further action under applicable laws.
The notice further stated that non-compliance with directions issued under Section 94 of the BNSS may constitute an offence punishable under provisions of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023.
Meer Faisal shared the notice on the platform as he quipped “journalism is not a crime”.
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