Security agencies in Tamil Nadu were put on high alert on Tuesday after two separate government offices in Coimbatore and Krishnagiri districts received alarming bomb threat emails, which were later declared to be hoaxes following intensive searches.
Coimbatore Passport Office Receives Chilling Email
The Regional Passport Office located on Avinashi Road in Coimbatore became the target of a security scare. A staff member discovered an email from an unidentified sender, which contained a direct threat. The message claimed that 'RDX IEDs' (Improvised Explosive Devices) had been strategically placed within the office premises. The email explicitly instructed officials to "evacuate everyone as soon as possible."
Acting swiftly on the protocol, the staff immediately informed the Coimbatore City Police. The authorities did not take any chances and promptly dispatched specialized teams to the scene. The Bomb Detection and Disposal Squad (BDDS) along with a K9 dog squad were rushed to the passport office to conduct a thorough sweep of the entire area.
Mass Evacuation at Krishnagiri Combined Court Complex
In a similar and nearly simultaneous incident, the Krishnagiri combined court complex also found itself in the midst of a tense situation. According to a police official from the Krishnagiri town station, threat emails were delivered to both the district collector's office and the superintendent of police's office around 10:50 am.
The content of this email was equally alarming. It stated that a bomb had been planted within the court premises. Furthermore, it added a sinister detail that three men loaded with RDX explosives were planning to carry out a suicide bombing attack.
Upon receiving the alert, police and BDDS teams rushed to the court complex. As a critical precautionary measure, the entire premises were swiftly evacuated. Judges, court employees, lawyers, and members of the public were all moved to safety without delay, and the area was brought under strict police control.
Intensive Searches Confirm Hoax, Investigations Launched
In both locations, the security forces left no stone unturned. After conducting intensive and meticulous searches of the Coimbatore passport office and the Krishnagiri court complex, the bomb squad personnel concluded that the threats were not credible. No suspicious items or explosives were found at either site.
Despite the all-clear, the authorities are not treating the matter lightly. A case has been registered in both instances, and a detailed probe is currently underway to trace the origin of the threatening emails and identify the perpetrators behind these hoaxes. In Krishnagiri, tight security arrangements remained in place around the court complex and surrounding areas as a measure of abundant caution.
These incidents highlight the challenges faced by security forces in distinguishing credible threats from malicious hoaxes, which consume significant resources and cause public disruption. The police are likely investigating possible links between the two threats given their proximate timing and similar modus operandi.
