Daijiworld Media Network - Raipur/Bhopal
Raipur/Bhopal, Jan 8: District courts in multiple locations across Chhattisgarh and Madhya Pradesh were put on high alert on Thursday after receiving anonymous bomb threat emails, leading to the evacuation of court complexes and extensive security checks by police and specialised teams.
According to officials, threatening emails were sent to the official email addresses of district courts in Rajnandgaon, Durg and Bilaspur in Chhattisgarh, as well as the Rewa district court in Madhya Pradesh. The messages warned of explosive attacks, prompting authorities to treat the threats seriously.
In Rajnandgaon, the alert was received around 10.07 a.m., with the email claiming that a suicide attack using an RDX-based improvised explosive device would be carried out. The message reportedly demanded that judges vacate the premises by mid-afternoon. Following the warning, the district administration swung into action, with the collector and superintendent of police overseeing the immediate evacuation of the court complex.
Police teams, bomb disposal units and dog squads were deployed to thoroughly scan the premises. After an intensive search, officials confirmed that no explosives, suspicious objects or hazardous materials were found.
Similar precautionary measures were taken at the district courts in Durg and Bilaspur after comparable emails were received. In both locations, court buildings were cleared and searched, with authorities later confirming that the threats turned out to be unfounded.
Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Vishnu Deo Sai sought to reassure the public, saying there was no reason for panic. “Our police administration is strong and fully prepared to deal with any such situation,” he said.
In Madhya Pradesh, the newly built Rewa District Court complex witnessed brief panic after an anonymous email was received at around 8.30 a.m. at the official email ID of the District and Sessions Judge. The message threatened to blow up the court by around 2.30 p.m. and mentioned the alleged use of RDX explosives.
Acting on directions from the High Court and with the approval of the District Judge, judges, lawyers, court staff and visitors were evacuated safely. Security agencies, including bomb disposal and canine squads, conducted an exhaustive search of the premises, which continued well into the afternoon. No suspicious materials were detected.
Rewa City Superintendent of Police Rajiv Pathak said preliminary findings suggested that the email may have originated from southern India. Cyber police have been roped in to trace the source of the threat and identify those responsible.
Officials pointed out that similar bomb threat emails were reported at district courts in several other states, including Bihar, Punjab, Haryana and Himachal Pradesh, on the same day. This has raised suspicions of coordinated hoax threats aimed at disrupting judicial work and creating public fear.
Authorities also recalled that ordnance factories in Itarsi had earlier received similar bomb threats on two occasions. Investigations are currently underway across all affected states to identify the origin and motive behind the emails.