New Delhi:Maharashtra civic authorities on Wednesday received a series of bomb threat emails which targeted key locations, including RSS headquarters in Nagpur,
the Chief Minister’s Office (CMO), and municipal mayoral offices in Mumbai and Pune, leading to evacuations and heightened security checks, as per news agency PTI.
In Mumbai, the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) received multiple emails warning of blasts at several locations, including the mayor’s office and the CMO. Officials noted the messages were sent to several official email IDs and resulted in a multi-agency investigation. The emails allegedly had mentioned plans for explosions at the mayor’s office, CMO, BSE building and other civic offices, and contained references to Khalistan along with inflammatory content targeting institutions.
Threats received for Pune and Nagpur too
In Pune, the main administrative headquarters of the Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC), including the mayor’s office, was targeted with a bomb threat email. This led authorities to evacuate the premises and launch an extensive search operation with the bomb detection squad. Access to the PMC complex was also later restricted as a precaution.
Meanwhile, in Nagpur, police were alerted after Mayor Neeta Thakre received an email alleging that an explosive device had been planted at the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) headquarters located in the Mahal area at Dr Hedgewar Smruti Bhavan in Reshimbagh.
A Bomb Detection and Disposal Squad (BDDS) was deployed immediately to inspect the locations, but no suspicious items were located during the search.
According to Nagpur City Zone 3 Deputy Commissioner of Police Rahul Madne, an email was received which threatened to plant a bomb. Following the information received in the email, the authorities were conducting a thorough search and said the operation was still underway. They were searching the RSS headquarters, Hedgewar Bhawan and Harihar Bhawan, and though nothing has been found, a thorough search is required.
The threatening emails also claimed that a vehicle carrying an improvised explosive device (IED) could be used to target the Mumbai mayor’s office at 1:11 pm. Similar threats were issued against the Bombay Stock Exchange (BSE) building, the Chief Minister’s Office (CMO) and the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) headquarters at specified times.
Officials said the message, purportedly sent by a group identifying itself as the Khalistan National Army, had mentioned a series of planned IED blasts at the PMC mayor’s office at 1:11 pm, Vidhan Bhavan at 3:11 pm, and the RSS headquarters in Nagpur at 3:11 pm.
The email further referenced the RSS’s alleged role in Operation Bluestar and Operation Woodrose in 1984, calling for “revenge” and the destruction of the BJP and RSS.
In response, security has been tightened across all civic offices and other sensitive locations across Mumbai and Pune, while investigators are underway to trace the origin of the emails. Police have urged citizens not to panic, reassuring them that all measures were in place.
