Bomb Threats Target Four UP District Courts, Sparking State-Wide Security Alert
Four district court complexes in Uttar Pradesh were thrown into chaos on Thursday after receiving bomb threat emails, triggering large-scale security operations across the state. The threats targeted courts in Lucknow, Mirzapur, Varanasi, and Ayodhya, causing immediate panic and prompting urgent evacuations of judges, lawyers, staff, and litigants.
Immediate Evacuations and Security Response
Officials confirmed that the threatening emails claimed explosive devices had been planted inside the court premises. In response, local police, bomb disposal squads, and dog squads rushed to all four locations. Precautionary evacuations were swiftly implemented to ensure public safety as security teams began thorough searches of the facilities.
In Lucknow, Deputy Commissioner of Police (West Zone) Vishwajeet Srivastava stated that the court premises were vacated around 1 pm following receipt of the bomb threat email. "All teams, including the STF and BDDS squads, arrived promptly. A comprehensive search was conducted, and no suspicious items were located," he reported, emphasizing that the situation remained under control throughout the operation.
Coordinated Search Operations Across Multiple Districts
Similar security protocols were activated in the other affected districts:
- In Mirzapur, Superintendent of Police Aparna Rajat Kaushik confirmed that bomb disposal squads and police teams executed extensive checks across the entire court complex. "We evacuated the complete court premises and conducted a detailed search operation," she explained.
- Parallel operations unfolded in Varanasi and Ayodhya, where sniffer dogs meticulously scanned courtrooms, chambers, and sensitive areas. Entry and exit gates were barricaded to restrict movement during the security sweeps.
High-Level Review and Ongoing Investigation
Senior officials at the state police headquarters revealed that the matter is being reviewed at the highest levels of administration. Coordination has been established with central intelligence agencies to trace the source of the emails and determine whether these threats represent a coordinated attempt to create widespread panic.
Authorities confirmed that search operations at all four locations concluded without discovering any suspicious objects. However, investigations into the origin of the threat emails continue, with forensic teams examining digital evidence to identify potential perpetrators.
The incident highlights ongoing security challenges for public institutions in Uttar Pradesh, particularly following similar threats in recent months. Security protocols at court complexes across the state are expected to undergo review and potential enhancement in response to Thursday's events.
