Bomb threats trigger panic in Dahod, Ahmedabad courts

Vadodara/Ahmedabad: Bomb threat emails once again sparked panic at three court complexes in Gujarat on Monday, prompting evacuations and intensive searches by police. However, no explosives or suspicious objects were found.An email warning of a possible bomb in the building triggered panic at the Dahod district court complex, prompting immediate evacuation. Entry and exit were restricted while security personnel carried out an extensive check.Dahod deputy superintendent of police Jagdish Bhandari said, "We conducted a detailed search of the court premises but did not find anything suspicious."Bhandari said the email appeared to be similar to a series of hoax threats reported in Gujarat in recent days.Court proceedings were disrupted for a few hours due to the security checks but resumed around noon after the premises were declared safe.In Ahmedabad, an email warning of bomb blasts at the Gujarat high court in Sola and the Ahmedabad rural court near Income Tax in Navrangpura sparked heavy security response. Police teams, along with bomb detection and disposal squads and sniffer dog units, carried out extensive searches, only to discover that the threat was a hoax.Security personnel evacuated the premises and barred visitors from entry. Lawyers, litigants and staff were asked to step outside while police cordoned off the areas and intensified checks at all entry points.At the rural court complex in Navrangpura, around 400 people present on the premises were evacuated as a precautionary measure. Police officials said the email contained references to Pakistan's intelligence agency, ISI, and alleged plans to carry out explosions at courts and judicial offices in different states. The message also made provocative claims linking the threats to revenge for the death of a man in Tamil Nadu, and referred to slain terrorist Ajmal Kasab.