Panic spread through the Ludhiana judicial complex on Thursday following the receipt of a bomb threat email at the official address of the district and sessions judge. The alarming message prompted an immediate and large-scale security response, leading to the evacuation of the entire premises.
Massive Security Response and Evacuation
Upon receiving the information, the Ludhiana police swiftly launched a major security operation. A heavy police force, accompanied by an anti-bomb squad, rushed to the court complex located in Ludhiana. Authorities moved quickly to evacuate judges, lawyers, court staff, and all visitors present on the premises. The entire area was cordoned off, and entry was completely barred to allow for a thorough search.
Confirming the incident, Ludhiana Police Commissioner Swapan Sharma stated that the threat was received at the official email address of the district and sessions judge. "Police immediately made everyone vacate the complex. The entire court complex was cordoned off and intensified checking was conducted with the help of a bomb squad; however, nothing was found," Sharma said. He added that a case is being registered against the unidentified sender of the mail at the Division Number 5 police station.
Chaos and Disruption in Court Proceedings
The sudden evacuation caused significant chaos and disruption. Lawyers were instructed to leave their chambers immediately, and all case hearings scheduled for the day were cancelled. People who had arrived for their court hearings were forced to return home.
An advocate present at the complex told reporters that police asked everyone to vacate immediately after the threat was received. Although some members of the District Bar Association (DBA) speculated it might be a mock drill, the advocate clarified it was a genuine search operation launched in response to a real threat. The cancellation of hearings led to widespread inconvenience for all parties involved in the day's legal proceedings.
Investigation and Possible Link to KCF Arrests
The police are actively investigating the source of the threatening email. Notably, the incident occurred a day after a significant security operation in the city. On Wednesday, the State Special Operation Cell (SSOC), along with Ludhiana Counter Intelligence, arrested two city residents—Avtar Singh and Karanbir Singh—who are alleged members of the Khalistan Commando Force (KCF).
Punjab Director General of Police (DGP) Gaurav Yadav stated that the arrested individuals were planning targeted killings and attacks on government buildings. Investigators are now probing whether there is any connection between these high-profile arrests and the bomb threat email received at the Ludhiana judicial complex. The possibility of the threat being a retaliatory action is a key line of inquiry for the authorities.
The security scare highlights the persistent challenges faced by judicial and government installations. While the thorough search yielded no explosive device, the incident successfully tested the emergency response protocols of the Ludhiana police and caused a major disruption to the judicial process in the city.
