Bomb threat mails spark security alert at J’khand post offices, passport centres; turn out hoaxes

Ranchi, Jul 15 (PTI) Security agencies were put on high alert across Jharkhand on Wednesday after passport offices and head post offices in Ranchi, Deoghar and Dhanbad received bomb threat emails, prompting evacuations and extensive searches by police and bomb disposal teams, officials said. However, the mails turned out to be hoaxes as nothing incriminatory was found during the searches. Ranchi City SP Paras Rana said that the Regional Passport Office received an email threatening to blow up the premises. Following the alert, local police and the Bomb Detection and Disposal Squad (BDDS) rushed to the office and carried out a comprehensive search of the building. “No suspicious object or explosive material was found during the operation. Police have launched an investigation into the source of the email. It appears to be a hoax. Preliminary investigation points out that the email has come from Tamil Nadu,” the police officer said. A similar alert was issued in Deoghar after the Regional Passport Office informed local authorities about the threat. According to Deoghar Postmaster Ravi Kumar, the threatening email was received after 11 am. The district police were immediately informed, following which the Head Post Office was evacuated. A bomb disposal squad and a sniffer dog team thoroughly searched the premises, but nothing suspicious was detected. In Dhanbad, the Head Post Office and the Passport Seva Kendra also received bomb threat emails. Dhanbad City SP Ritvik Shrivastav said that after being informed about the email threat, security checks were conducted at the head post office and the Passport Seva Kendra, but nothing incriminating was detected. “More than 100 people present inside the post office at the time were evacuated as a precaution. Police and bomb disposal teams conducted detailed inspections of the buildings, with no explosives or suspicious materials found,” he said. According to police, the email contained messages claiming that "my God has been insulted," along with the bomb threat. Cyber experts have joined the investigation to trace the sender and determine the origin of the email. Officials said similar threat emails had been received in the past, but previous searches had also failed to uncover any explosives. Despite this, authorities are treating every threat with utmost seriousness and have strengthened security at all affected locations. The administration has appealed to the public not to believe or circulate rumours and assured them that verified information will be shared through official channels. Police said investigations are continuing while security remains on high alert across the state. PTI ANB NN