Series of bomb hoaxes hits court work in 7 states

NEW DELHI: Bomb threats were emailed to courts across India Thursday, sparking panic, mass evacuations and multi-state security sweeps before authorities declared them hoaxes. Messages claiming RDX-based IEDs and suicide attacks forced shutdowns in Odisha, Bihar, Kerala, Chhattisgarh, Punjab, Himachal Pradesh and Andhra Pradesh, among others, paralysing judicial work.

In Bhubaneswar, an email warned judges and staff to flee by 2.35pm, prompting evacuations. Cyber police said the mail, sent under the name "Arun Kumar, LTTE", mentioned LTTE, ISI and Tamil Nadu constables, and may have been routed through a VPN.

Courts in Patna, Danapur, Araria, Gaya and Kishanganj were cleared after similar emails, including one claiming a "human bomb". In Kerala, Kasaragod and Manjeri district, courts were evacuated following emails traced to Tamil Nadu, one sent in the name of a so-called Tamil Liberation Organisation.

Searches in Rajnandgaon, Durg and Bilaspur in Chhattisgarh, Mohali, Moga and Ferozepur in Punjab, Shimla high court, and courts in Anantapur, Chittoor, Visakhapatnam and Eluru in Andhra Pradesh found no explosives.

Cyber cells launched a coordinated hunt for senders, warning of strict action as normal court work resumed.

(Inputs from Bhubaneswar, Patna, Araria, Gaya, Kasaragod, Kozhikode, Raipur, Bathinda, Shimla, Vijayawada)

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