Hoax Bomb Threats Trigger Panic and Evacuations at Passport Offices Across West Bengal
In a disturbing escalation of security scares, central government offices in West Bengal were targeted by a wave of hoax bomb threats on Thursday. This incident followed closely on the heels of similar threats to courts across the state, heightening tensions and disrupting essential services.
Immediate Evacuations in Kolkata and Key Locations
The threats originated from an email that falsely claimed explosives had been planted at the Kolkata Regional Passport Office (RPO) on Brabourne Road, as well as at various Passport Seva Kendras (PSKs) and Post Office Passport Seva Kendras (POPSKs) throughout West Bengal. Authorities responded swiftly, ordering immediate evacuations at the RPO and the PSK in Anandapur.
Staff members, passport applicants, and individuals seeking police clearances were hurriedly moved out of the buildings as law enforcement and bomb detection and disposal squads, accompanied by sniffer dogs, initiated thorough search operations. A senior RPO official recounted the chaos, stating, "There was panic among employees. Kolkata Police was informed, and the regional passport officers directed the staff to evacuate. All applicants were also safely removed before we waited on the street until the bomb squad completed its search. We heaved a sigh of relief when it was confirmed to be a hoax."
Widespread Disruption Across the State
West Bengal boasts the largest network of POPSKs in India, which meant the hoax caused extensive disruption. Passport Seva services, which operate at the grassroots level through post offices, were severely affected. Similar threat emails were reported from multiple locations, including:
- PSK Behrampore
- Howrah Maidan Post Office, which houses a POPSK
- Asansol Head Post Office and POPSK
- Basirhat POPSK
- East Burdwan Head Post Office, functioning as a POPSK
In each instance, police, bomb squads, and sniffer dogs were deployed, with campuses cordoned off and operations temporarily suspended. The Passport Office in Asansol also received a comparable threat, adding to the statewide alarm.
Official Advisory and Service Suspensions
In response to the threats, authorities issued an advisory mandating that all post offices containing POPSKs shut down operations between 12:30 PM and 2:00 PM. Staff and visitors were evacuated as a precautionary measure. This directive impacted numerous facilities, leading to service suspensions and further evacuations at key sites such as:
- IIT Kharagpur campus post office PSK, where services were halted for nearly 90 minutes
- Ghatal sub-divisional POPSK
- Jhargram Post Office, where bomb squads conducted searches
Additional alerts were reported from Balurghat in South Dinajpur and Makdumpur post offices in Malda, both of which host passport centers. Police teams and bomb squads rushed to these locations, evacuating the offices promptly. Officials in Malda confirmed that all passport centers in the state had received similar threat messages and were closed as a safety measure.
No Suspicious Objects Found
Despite the widespread panic and thorough searches, no suspicious objects were recovered at any of the passport offices or post office centers by late evening. The incidents underscore the vulnerability of public institutions to such hoaxes and the significant resources required to address them. Inputs from Howrah, Murshidabad, Malda, East Burdwan, and West Midnapore corroborated the events, highlighting the coordinated nature of the threats across the region.
