Bhopal-Ind bomb hoax panic: 9 sites targeted in MP in a day

Bhopal/Indore: Panic gripped Bhopal and Indore on Wednesday after multiple institutions received hoax bomb threat emails. In Bhopal, seven locations—including district court, Weights and Measures Department and Regional Passport Office in MP Nagar, JK Hospital and Medical College in Kolar, IISER Bhopal in Khajuri, Atal Bihari Vajpayee Hindi University in Sukhi Sewania, and People's University—received threats claiming 21 poisonous gas bombs planted across campuses.. Following the alerts, police, the Bomb Disposal and Detection Squad (BDDS), dog squad and other agencies rushed to the locations and carried out intensive search operations. However, after thorough checks, the threats were found to be a hoax, bringing relief to the administration.The email reportedly mentioned names of other states and contained political and ideological remarks, making serious allegations against govts, media and trusts. The sender also indicated abandoning democratic processes and adopting violence, which prompted heightened alert among security agencies.ACP Alok Shrivastava said that police and the bomb squad conducted detailed searches at JK Medical College and Hospital, but no explosive material was found. Efforts are underway to trace the sender.Khajuri SHO Neeraj Verma said the IISER campus, which houses around 3,500 students and staff, was evacuated under the pretext of a mock drill. A full-scale search operation lasting over two hours was conducted, but nothing suspicious was found. The Anti-Terrorist Squad has also joined the probe.MP Nagar SHO Jai Hind Sharma said similar searches were conducted at the Regional Passport Office and the Weights and Measures Department, while Sukhi Sewania SHO Rambabu Choudhary confirmed that the Hindi University campus was also thoroughly checked, with no suspicious findings.Police officials noted that similar hoax emails have been sent to multiple institutions in the city over the past month. The series of threats started on Feb 19 when a hoax bomb threat email was received at People's University in Nishatpura. Then on March 2, again, People's University, along with AIIMS Bhopal in Bag Sewania, GPO in Royal Market, Regional Passport Office in MP Nagar and GPO in Royal Market, received threats. Two days back, Weights and Measures Department in MP Nagar received the threat, but no explosives were found. In Indore, divisional commissioner's office and labour commissioner's office got morning email (discovered 12 PM) to official ID, threatening blasts. Alerted by 2.10pm, police/BDS/dog squad evacuated hundreds, scanned premises—no explosives. Deputy commissioner Sapna Lovanshi said email rambled on Tamil Nadu politics, targeting DMK govt, Udhayanidhi Stalin; called staff "Pakistan spies," alleged foreign-funded trusts pushing agendas, derogatory South India NGO remarks. Cyber Cell traces IP; formal complaint filed.