Writer, activist and social scientist Kancha Ilaiah Shepherd complained to the Osmania University police on Monday that he has been receiving threatening phone calls since Sunday.

Some of the callers have threatened to cut off his tongue, Kancha Ilaiah alleged.

Trouble began for the social scientist after a portion of his book Post Hindu India was translated into Telugu and published under the title Samajika Smugglerlu – Komatollu (Social Smugglers – Vysyas) by Boomi Publications.

Arya Vysya associations have taken offence to the title and content of the book, which they say is derogatory towards their caste. Representatives of these associations have condemned the book on television news channels, and have launched protests at various places across the Telugu states.