TGSP protest fallout: Curbs on social media, protests for Secretariat security personnel

The Chief Security Officer (CSO) of the Secretariat has instructed Telangana Special Police personnel and officers not to post, share, like or comment on any messages against the TGSP system, police officers and the State government on social media platforms.

Hyderabad: Stressing that there was a constant surveillance on personnel posted on security duty at Secretariat, the Chief Security Officer (CSO) of the Secretariat has instructed Telangana Special Police personnel and officers not to post, share, like or comment on any messages against the TGSP system, police officers and the State government on social media platforms.

Pointing out that Section 144 was in force covering an area of two kilometres around the Secretariat, the CSO said gathering of more than five persons was prohibited. This apart, if any personnel participated in protests, rasta roko programmes or in laying siege to the Secretariat, legal action would be taken against them, he said in a order issued on Monday.

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Further, a few personnel were also admins in different WhatsApp groups and were adding contacts of other personnel in such groups. Instigating messages were being posted against the TGSP system and police officers, he said.

“There is constant surveillance on all your movements and the people you meet. Personnel should exit from such WhatsApp groups,” the CSO said in the orders.

Personnel and their family members should not participate in any protests, rasta roko or other demonstrations, which were prohibited. In case, if any personnel participated, they would have to face lot of inconvenience, he said.

The CSO specifically instructed the personnel not to post, share, like or comment any messages against the TGSP system, police officers and State government on WhatsApp, Telegram, Facebook, Instagram and X (formerly Twitter). In case if any personnel were caught indulging in such activities, departmental action would be initiated against them, he warned.

Considering the above instructions, the personnel and officers posted at Secretariat were ordered not to interfere in unnecessary issues.

“A small mistake in the Secretariat will cast an impact on the entire TGSP system and consequently we will have to move out from here,” the CSO added.