Bomb Threats Spark Panic and Evacuations Across Chhattisgarh Court Complexes
Panic and chaos gripped court complexes across northern and southern Chhattisgarh on Wednesday after multiple bomb threats were received via email, prompting immediate evacuations and intensive security operations. The threats targeted district courts in Ambikapur in Surguja, Jagdalpur in Bastar, as well as Rajnandgaon, Janjgir, and Dhamtari districts, creating a tense atmosphere in these judicial hubs.
Immediate Security Response and Evacuation Protocols
In Ambikapur, authorities confirmed that an email threatening to blow up the district and sessions court was received on the official court email ID and accessed by the district judge. Similar anonymous emails warning of bomb attacks were reported from other district and sessions courts across the region. Upon receiving the alerts, court premises were immediately closed and sealed as a precautionary measure.
Senior police officials, including Superintendents of Police (SP) and Additional Superintendents of Police (ASP), rushed to the affected court complexes with bomb disposal squads and dog teams. Security personnel implemented strict screening procedures at all entry points, using metal detectors to check vehicles and visitors while teams conducted thorough sweeps of the entire campuses.
Police Investigation and Security Assessments
Surguja SSP Rajesh Agrawal addressed reporters, confirming that a "security threat email" had been received. "So far, no suspicious object or person has been found. Bomb squad and dog squad teams are deployed and the source of the email is being traced," he stated. Agrawal added that preliminary investigation suggested the email appeared to have been sent through an Outlook account, with its origin and purpose under active investigation.
Following the emergence of the threatening emails, court staff, lawyers, and visitors were promptly asked to vacate the premises. Bastar SP Shalabh Kumar Sinha confirmed the threat in his jurisdiction and reported that police teams reached the court complex immediately, launching detailed searches with the assistance of specialized dog squads.
Pattern of Similar Threats and Historical Context
A senior police official in Bastar district confirmed that during the extensive searches, no suspicious objects, bombs, explosives, or any dangerous materials were discovered. This incident marks the second time Rajnandgaon district has received such a threat, raising concerns about a potential pattern.
The threats arrive just weeks after a similar scare on January 8, when anonymous bomb threat emails were received by district courts in Rajnandgaon, Durg, and Bilaspur. Police investigations following those incidents determined the threats to be hoaxes, though the recurrence suggests either copycat behavior or a coordinated attempt to disrupt judicial proceedings across the state.
The repeated security threats have highlighted vulnerabilities in court security systems and prompted discussions about enhancing digital security measures for official communications. Legal professionals and court staff expressed anxiety about the disruptions to judicial work, while police authorities emphasized their commitment to maintaining security and tracing the source of these threatening communications.
