A series of bomb threat emails sent to key judicial and administrative institutions in Maharashtra, including the Nagpur District and Sessions Court and the Akola collectorate, triggered widespread alarm and prompted large-scale security operations on Thursday. The threats, which later proved to be a hoax, caused significant disruption and highlighted vulnerabilities to cyber-enabled panic.
Widespread Threats and Immediate Response
The alarming email reached the official inbox of Nagpur's principal district and sessions judge around 10 am. It claimed that four RDX IEDs had been planted on the court premises, specifically targeting judges' chambers. The sender issued a warning to evacuate the area by 2 pm. The message also bizarrely mentioned a detainee named Mustafa Ali Syed, alleged to be a representative of Pakistan's ISI, and made a demand about renaming a road in a southern state.
Authorities immediately sprang into action. In Nagpur, anti-sabotage teams, the Bomb Detection and Disposal Squad (BDDS), and dog squads were deployed for a thorough, nearly three-hour-long search of the entire court complex. Court proceedings were temporarily disrupted, and sensitive areas were evacuated as a precaution.
State-Wide Pattern of Hoax Threats
This was not an isolated incident. Sources confirmed that similar emails were sent to various other institutions across Maharashtra, including in Mumbai, Kolhapur, and Ahilyanagar. This marks the third such bomb scare at the Nagpur District and Sessions Court in recent months. Just a few days prior, similar threats had caused panic at the Bombay High Court's Nagpur bench and a city shrine during the winter session of the state legislature.
In Akola, the collectorate received an identical threat, leading Superintendent of Police Archit Chandak to order stringent anti-sabotage measures. The premises were secured, entry was restricted, and a comprehensive search by police, BDDS, and dog squads was conducted. Fire brigade and emergency medical services were put on standby.
Cyber Hunt for a 'Habitual Hoax Mailer'
Investigations point to a tech-savvy perpetrator whom police suspect is a habitual hoax mailer. The individual is believed to use sophisticated methods to evade tracking, aiming solely to create panic and disrupt official work. An FIR has been registered by Akola police, and cyber cells from both the city and state levels have been roped in to trace the sender's IP address and uncover any larger conspiracy.
"These are classic hoax attempts to create fear and disrupt normal functioning," a senior Nagpur police officer stated. "We are coordinating with cyber units to identify and apprehend the accused." Security around key government offices in affected districts has been heightened as a precautionary measure.
Police officials have urged the public to remain calm and not spread panic, assuring that security at judicial and public institutions is being strictly maintained. The exhaustive searches at all locations confirmed the threats were false, with no explosive or suspicious devices found.
