Bhubaneswar: Panic gripped district court complexes in Baleshwar, Anugola and Sambalpur Monday after bomb threat emails were received, prompting immediate evacuation and extensive searches by police and bomb disposal squads.
In Baleshwar, a bomb threat email, reportedly written in a South Indian language, was received at the office of the District and Sessions Judge in the afternoon. The email warned of an explosion inside the judgeship complex, triggering panic among lawyers, court employees and visitors.
Court proceedings were immediately suspended and the premises evacuated as a precautionary measure. Sahadevkhunta Police rushed to the court complex, cordoned off the area and restricted entry.
Sniffer dogs and bomb disposal squads were deployed to carry out an extensive search for explosives or other suspicious objects. Preliminary information suggested that the threatening email was sent from Lucknow and claimed that the judgeship complex would be blown up using gelatine explosives.
A heavy police presence was maintained at the court complex to prevent any untoward incident. However, no explosive material was found at the Baleshwar court premises till the filing of this report. Sources said the Anugola and Sambalpur district courts also received similar bomb threat emails Monday, triggering panic among court staff and others present on the premises.
Police swiftly evacuated both court complexes and launched extensive searches with bomb disposal squads.
However, no explosives or suspicious materials were recovered from either premises, police said. Separate investigations have been initiated to trace the source of the threatening emails and determine whether the incidents are linked.
