The Vadodara district collector's office was thrown into chaos on Thursday morning after receiving a bomb threat via email, prompting a massive security response that ultimately revealed the threat to be a hoax.
Threat Email Triggers Evacuation and Security Sweep
The district collectorate in Diwalipura received an alarming email early on Thursday. The message warned that bombs would explode on the premises before 1 pm and demanded the immediate evacuation of the offices. Authorities swiftly informed the police upon receiving the communication.
In response, multiple police teams, including the bomb disposal squad, rushed to the collectorate. As a precautionary measure, all offices within the complex were vacated. A thorough security sweep was conducted for several hours across the entire premises.
No Suspicious Items Found, Investigation Launched
After an extensive search, the police and bomb squad found nothing suspicious. Officials declared the threat a hoax, and normal office operations resumed shortly thereafter.
A senior police official stated, "We are actively working to trace the source of this email. We are also investigating potential connections to the threatening emails received by several schools in Ahmedabad the previous day, on Wednesday."
Pattern of Hoaxes and Suspected Khalistan Links
This incident is not isolated. Police suspect that elements associated with Khalistan separatists may be behind this latest threat and the similar ones targeting educational institutions.
This marks a recurring security concern for Vadodara. The district collector's office faced an identical bomb threat in April of this year, which also proved to be false after an investigation. Furthermore, the city's schools have been targeted multiple times:
- In July: Two schools in Vadodara received bomb threats via email, leading managements to alert parents to collect their children.
- In June: Two other schools were affected by similar bomb hoaxes.
The Ahmedabad incidents referenced by police occurred on Wednesday, leading to the shutdown of several schools as a safety measure after they received threatening emails.
Authorities are now piecing together digital evidence to identify the perpetrators behind this worrying trend of bomb hoaxes designed to create public panic and disrupt official and educational activities.
