The Unnao police on Sunday lodged an FIR under the charges of provoking rioting against eight Twitter users for spreading “fake” stories about the alleged poisoning of three Dalit girls in Asoha on February 17, which left two dead and one in hospital in critical condition.

The police said the Twitter handles had spread false information that the girls had been raped, which was not found in the post-mortem report, and that the last rites of the two girls were done without the consent of their families, which also was denied by the police. An FIR was registered under Section 153 of the IPC and Section 66 of the Information Technology Act against @NilimDutta, @themojostory, @janjagranlive, @SurajKrBaudh, @VijayAmbedkarUP, @Abhaykumarazad97, @Rahuldiwkr and @BhimSenaChief.

Unnao SP Anand Kulkarni said further action would be taken in the case and the FIR under the same Sections against Congress leader Udit Raj for a tweet, after the police take legal opinion. He said the tweets could have affected the law and order in the village.

Editor of Mojo (@themojostory) Barkha Dutt said in a tweet: “On FIR against us for reporting Unnao murders — We’ve followed journalistic principles by reporting all sides of an evolving story. To use IPC Sections that are punishable with prison is pure intimidation. I am very ready to fight it and face it in court.”