Indore RTO Evacuated Following Hoax Cyanide Bomb Threat Email
Indore's Regional Transport Office (RTO) was placed on high alert on Monday after receiving a hoax bomb threat via email, which prompted a massive evacuation and intensive security sweep. The email, sent to the official government ID of the RTO, threatened to detonate "15 cyanide gas bombs" on the premises, causing significant disruption to services and public safety concerns.
Details of the Threatening Email
The email was received at 10:06 pm on Sunday from the address neeraja_gandhi@outlook.com, but it only came to light when staff opened the office and checked the inbox on Monday morning. The sender identified the subject as "15 small cyanide gas bomb blasts" and issued a chilling ultimatum. The demand was to "withdraw the CBI case against Tamil minister Senthil Balaji and evacuate all employees immediately." Strangely, the email also alluded to a Telugu film titled "Raju Weds Rambai (Saailu Kampati)" and rambled on about Tamil Nadu politics, adding to the bizarre nature of the threat.
Immediate Police Response and Evacuation
Upon discovering the message, RTO official Pradeep Kumar Sharma immediately alerted the Tejaji Nagar police. Within minutes, a heavy police contingent, including the Assistant Commissioner of Police (ACP) for Zone-1 and the in-charge of Tejaji Nagar police station, arrived at the scene, accompanied by the Bomb Disposal Squad (BDS). The entire RTO complex was cordoned off as experts systematically scanned every corner of the building for hazardous devices. Following a thorough search, the BDS confirmed that no cyanide bombs or suspicious material were present on the campus.
Sharma told reporters, "The entire operation was conducted with utmost caution to ensure public safety. We evacuated all employees and visitors as a precautionary measure."
Declaration as a Hoax and Ongoing Investigation
Authorities have declared the threat a hoax after the comprehensive sweep found no evidence of explosives. However, they are not taking the matter lightly. A police official stated, "The information provided in the email was found to be false after a complete sweep. But, given the specific political references and the mention of cyanide, we are working with the cyber cell to trace the origin of the IP address used to send the email." This investigation aims to identify the sender and prevent similar incidents in the future.
Impact on RTO Services and Public Inconvenience
The incident caused significant disruption to RTO services on Monday, with hundreds of citizens asked to wait outside while the security operation was underway. Many people faced delays in their transactions and appointments, highlighting the broader impact of such hoax threats on public infrastructure and daily life. Officials have urged the public to remain vigilant and report any suspicious activities to authorities promptly.
This hoax bomb threat serves as a reminder of the challenges faced by law enforcement in dealing with cyber-enabled crimes and the importance of robust security protocols at government offices.
