Bokaro Court Evacuated Following Hoax Bomb Threat Email
In a dramatic incident on Monday, the Bokaro court premises were evacuated and subjected to intensive searches by multiple police teams after receiving a threatening email that claimed bombs were planted on the campus. The threat, however, was later confirmed to be a hoax by authorities.
Panic and Evacuation at Court Premises
Panic gripped the Bokaro court early Monday morning when the registrar received an email around 9 am threatening to blow up the premises. The police were immediately informed, prompting a swift response. Teams from the Jharkhand Jaguar, special branch, and district police evacuated the court and the adjacent Bokaro Bar Association premises to ensure safety.
Bomb detection and disposal squads were pressed into action to conduct thorough searches of the chambers of judges and other areas. As a result, court work was severely disrupted for several hours, causing inconvenience to lawyers, staff, and litigants.
Hoax Email Details and Investigation
SP Harvinder Singh stated that the investigation revealed the email was a hoax. The email, addressed to an individual named Sourav, referenced an incident in Tamil Nadu and falsely claimed that 14 bombs filled with toxic gas had been planted on the court campus. It also instructed people on the rooftops to be vigilant, adding to the alarm.
"An investigation into the matter revealed that the email was a hoax. Investigation is underway to identify the senders of the email," SP Harvinder Singh said. Authorities are now focusing on tracing the origin of the email and apprehending those responsible for creating panic.
Pattern of Similar Threats in Jharkhand
This incident is not isolated. Notably, similar threat emails were sent earlier this year:
- In February, Ranchi civil court and Ranchi district collectorate received comparable threats.
- Last week, the regional passport office in the state capital also faced a similar hoax email.
In all these cases, thorough searches were conducted, but nothing suspicious was found, indicating a pattern of false alarms that have disrupted official functions across Jharkhand.
Impact and Ongoing Vigilance
The hoax bomb threat has highlighted vulnerabilities in security protocols and the need for enhanced cyber vigilance to prevent such incidents. While no actual danger was present, the event caused significant disruption and underscored the importance of prompt police response to potential threats.
Authorities urge the public to remain calm and report any suspicious activities, as investigations continue to ensure such hoaxes do not recur and to maintain law and order in the region.
