Kolkata, 24 February (H.S.): Several court premises in West Bengal were alarmed on Tuesday after receiving emails threatening bomb blasts. Security agencies were put on high alert after similar threats were received at courts ranging from Kolkata to the West Burdwan District and Sessions Court, Chuchura Court in Hooghly, Durgapur, and Bankshall Courts. As a precaution, several court premises were evacuated and intensive searches were conducted with the help of dog squads and metal detectors.

According to court sources, at around 11 a.m. on Tuesday, the Chief Justice of the West Burdwan District and Sessions Court received an email threatening a bomb in the court premises and a bomb blast at around 1 p.m. Police immediately responded. Senior officers arrived at the scene and conducted a search with the dog squad. It was reported that the Chief Justice was hearing a bail petition at the same time when he became aware of the email, causing a commotion in the court.

Shortly after, a similar threat was reported at the City and Sessions Court (Bankshall Court) in Kolkata. Fearing a bomb, lawyers and court staff rushed out of the courtroom. A similar threat was also received at the Durgapur court. However, searches at all locations yielded no suspicious objects.

Similarly, at the Chuchura court in Hooghly district, the District Judge received a threatening email, which mentioned an RDX explosion. The Police Commissioner and the District Superintendent of Police were immediately informed. The Special Branch of Chandannagar Police Commissionerate arrived at the scene and conducted a metal detector search. Nothing suspicious was found there either.

According to the police, this threat initially appears to be an attempt to spread terror, but due to security concerns, no risk was taken. Searches are ongoing in all affected court premises, and efforts have been intensified to identify the senders of the emails.

Notably, following the Supreme Court's directive, a large number of judges are currently engaged in the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of the electoral rolls. In such a situation, investigating agencies are also examining whether these threatening emails have any connection with this process or not.

---------------

Hindusthan Samachar / Priyanka Pandey