Bhubaneswar Man Re-Arrested for Issuing Bomb Threats to Jagannath Temple and Rath Yatra
In a concerning development, a 31-year-old man from Bhubaneswar, who was recently granted bail for allegedly threatening to bomb the revered Jagannath Temple, has been arrested once again. This time, he is accused of issuing fresh threats to trigger explosions during the upcoming Rath Yatra and to blow up the Shankaracharya’s mutt in Puri.
Accused Identified as Habitual Offender with Extensive Criminal Record
Police have identified the accused as Pratik Mishra, describing him as a habitual offender with a staggering history of 16 criminal cases. Most of these cases involve charges of cheating and cyber extortion, painting a picture of a persistent criminal engaged in illicit activities over the years.
Mishra was first arrested on January 25 for posting threats on social media to bomb the Puri temple. Investigators revealed that he had created a fake profile using a woman’s identity in an attempt to frame her for the crimes. After being released on bail on April 10, Mishra allegedly escalated his activities by creating WhatsApp groups under the same woman’s name.
Fresh Threats and Extortion Demands via WhatsApp Groups
In these WhatsApp groups, Mishra added prominent individuals and threatened them with bomb attacks unless they paid him extortion money amounting to lakhs of rupees. This led to the registration of four new cases against him at various police stations:
- Town police station on April 13
- Baselisahi on April 17
- Satyabadi on April 18
- Sea Beach police station on April 19
Puri SP Prateek Singh provided details of the threats, stating, "In one message, he demanded Rs 20 lakh from the Shankaracharya’s Govardhan mutt, threatening to bomb the institution if his demand was not met. In another, he warned of blasts during the forthcoming Rath Yatra and at Balunkeswar temple in Satyabadi area, demanding money."
Police Suspect Mental Instability and Note Decade-Long Criminal Span
Authorities suspect that Mishra may be mentally unstable, as he has continued to commit crimes despite repeated arrests and legal consequences. His criminal record spans over a decade across Puri and Kendrapada districts, indicating a long-standing pattern of unlawful behavior.
SP Singh added, "He is a habitual offender charged with attempt to murder, theft, molestation, sexual assault, cheating, forgery, extortion, and cyber crimes." This extensive list underscores the severity and variety of his alleged offenses.
Previous Arrests and Additional Criminal Activities
Police sources disclosed that Mishra was arrested on April 13 in Kendrapada’s Patkura area for extortion and abetment to suicide. This case involved a tragic incident where a man died by hanging after being falsely implicated in a rape case allegedly fabricated by Mishra and two associates, who had demanded Rs 1 lakh to withdraw the complaint.
Further investigations revealed that in September 2019, Mishra defamed two teachers in Puri’s Balanga area by morphing their photographs with a former minister, showcasing his involvement in cyber crimes and defamation.
The repeated arrests and ongoing threats highlight the challenges faced by law enforcement in dealing with habitual offenders who exploit digital platforms for extortion and terror threats. The case continues to unfold as authorities work to ensure public safety during the sensitive period of the Rath Yatra.
