Bomb threat to Ludhiana district court turns out to be a hoax

After receiving a warning of a blast at the Ludhiana district court complex and a school, the police and bomb disposal squad searched the entire premises. Following a long investigation, no explosives or suspicious material were recovered, turning out the threat to be a mere rumor.

Civil Lines Assistant Commissioner of Police (ACP) Sarabjit Singh Cheema stated that the message was a hoax. According to him, police squads had checked the entire court area as a precaution, but nothing suspicious was found. He said that the sender of the message is being tracked down.

Due to this warning, security forces checked all bags of people entering the court and increased vigilance on the entry routes.

The message was sent from the email address [email protected], claiming that blasts would be carried out at the school at 1:11 pm and at the district court at 2:11 pm. The text mentioned targeting singer-actor Diljit Dosanjh and Congress leader Rahul Gandhi, and also referred to the 1984 anti-Sikh riots.

The senders of the email claimed affiliation with the Khalistan National Army and Babbar Khalsa (Parmar-Canada).

Leaders of the District Bar Association expressed concern over the matter and asked the police to take action against the responsible individuals. Lawyers said that such incidents paralyze court work for hours, and therefore police personnel should be deployed at all main gates of the new court complex.

Key developments

• An email warning of blasts at the Ludhiana district court and a school was received.
• No suspicious object was found during the search conducted by the police and special security team.
• ACP Sarabjit Singh Cheema confirmed that the warning proved to be false.
• Efforts are being made by the police to trace the sender of the email.