Bomb scare at CMO, AMC, RSS HQ after hoax mail

Gandhinagar: Police and fire department launched search operations on Wednesday after an email, purportedly sent in the name of ‘Khalistan National Army’, threatened to blow up the chief minister’s office in Gandhinagar, Ahmedabad Municipal Corporation and the state headquarters of the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh in Ahmedabad.

The email, sent on a govt mail id, stated that bomb explosions will take place at the CMO at 1.11 pm, the AMC at 3.11 pm and the RSS headquarters – Dr Hedgewar Bhavan - located at Maninagar area of Ahmedabad, at 5.11 pm. Gujarat has witnessed repeated bomb hoax threats across cities, with over two dozen threat mails received in the past one-and-a-half years.

Director General of Police G S Malik, who is also in charge as police commissioner of Ahmedabad city, said investigators are probing the origin of the email. “VPN has been used for sending this email and the internet traffic was routed through the United States. Gandhinagar and Ahmedabad police are currently looking into this matter,” Malik told mediapersons.

With CM Bhupendra Patel and deputy CM Harsh Sanghavi in Delhi for the NDA meeting, the Swarnim Sankul – 1 complex in Gandhinagar was evacuated and searched by police, bomb detection and disposal squad personnel and fire department personnel. Operations at the complex resumed after nothing suspicious was found. “A threat mail has been received, and the police are investigating the matter. Appropriate action will be taken,” Chief secretary M K Das said.

Minister of state for forest and environment Pravin Mali said, “People who do not like peace resort to such activities. The police will investigate who is responsible for sending such threat emails.”

In Ahmedabad, the AMC headquarters at Danapith was evacuated, entry was restricted and security agencies carried out searches. City Mayor Hitesh Barot said the premises were thoroughly checked before work resumed after nothing suspicious was found. AMC standing committee chairman Kamlesh Patel said the matter is being investigated and such emails are sent to spread fear.

Security agencies also searched the RSS state headquarters in Ahmedabad. “Teams of police, dog squads, bomb disposal squads and fire brigade searched the premises thoroughly. A few persons were working in the building and they were evacuated briefly until search operations continued. Nothing objectionable was found in the building,” said Tejas Patel, Prant Prachar Pramukh of the RSS.

Meanwhile, in a separate case, police said investigations into the Sports Club terror threat note found last month traced it to a 9-year-old boy. Police said there was no terror link or criminal intent and the matter was treated as one requiring counselling rather than legal action.