A day of high tension unfolded across Chhattisgarh on Thursday as anonymous bomb threats sent via email triggered panic and large-scale evacuations at three major district courts. The threats, which specifically mentioned suicide attacks using powerful RDX-based improvised explosive devices (IEDs), led to a massive security response in Rajnandgaon, Durg, and Bilaspur.
Wave of Threats Triggers Immediate Security Response
The chain of events began in Rajnandgaon around 10:07 am. An unidentified person sent an email to the court's official ID, claiming a suicide attack would be carried out using RDX-based IEDs. The sender issued a chilling ultimatum, threatening to blow up the court building and demanding the evacuation of all judges by 2:35 pm.
The message immediately set off alarm bells within the judicial establishment. Judicial officers promptly alerted the district administration and police, activating a high-level security protocol. Police teams, along with bomb disposal squads and dog squads, rushed to the Rajnandgaon district court premises. The entire area was cordoned off as lawyers, litigants, and staff members were swiftly escorted out.
"There was panic everywhere. Files were left on tables, people rushed out into the corridor. No one knew what exactly had happened until officials said there had been a bomb threat email," recounted a lawyer who was present on the premises.
Extensive Searches Yield No Explosives
Around the same time, similar threat emails landed in the official inboxes of the district courts in Durg and Bilaspur, spreading the security scare across the state. In all three locations, security forces conducted thorough, floor-by-floor searches of the court complexes.
By late afternoon, officials confirmed that no hazardous materials were found. Rajnandgaon Superintendent of Police Ankita Shara stated, "During the search, no suspicious object, bomb, explosive or any dangerous material was found anywhere in the premises." The same conclusion was reached in Durg and Bilaspur after exhaustive checks.
Investigation Intensifies, Normalcy Awaited
While the immediate physical threat was ruled out, the cyber-investigation into the source of the threatening emails was intensified. Police cyber cells are working to trace the origin of the anonymous messages. The district administration in all three locations appealed for calm, assuring citizens and court users that the situation was under control.
Officials indicated that the courts were expected to resume normal functioning once all formalities related to the security sweep and safety clearance were completed. The incident highlights the vulnerability of public institutions to cyber-enabled threats and the need for robust protocols to handle such hoaxes, which disrupt judicial work and consume significant security resources.
