Kolkata, 27 February (H.S.): Following Thursday's emails, widespread panic spread across several districts of West Bengal on Friday. These emails were primarily sent to post offices and their associated passport service centers, prompting immediate evacuation of the respective premises as a precaution. However, no suspicious objects were recovered during the search operation.

On Friday afternoon, Hooghly Head Post Office, which also houses the Passport Service Center, received a threatening email. Subsequently, a similar email was sent to the Srirampur Sub-Post Office. Services were immediately suspended and the premises evacuated, causing significant inconvenience to those present at the office. The police and the bomb disposal squad were present at the scene and engaged in a search operation.

Similarly, Asansol Head Post Office in West Burdwan, Bankura Head Post Office, and Howrah Main Post Office also received threatening emails. In Howrah, a bomb threat spread to the post office as well as the New Collectorate Building, which houses several important district administration offices, including the District Magistrate's office.

The threatening email stated, An RDX bomb filled with cyanide gas will explode at the passport office at 12:10 p.m. Everyone should evacuate by 11 a.m. Yesterday, we tested the alertness of the police and administration; today, that test will not be repeated. Upon receiving the email, employees at the post office and passport offices rushed out in panic. However, even after the stipulated time had passed, there were no reports of any explosions.

The police conducted extensive searches with the help of sniffer dogs, but no suspicious object was recovered.

Notably, bomb threats have been reported in various districts for four consecutive days, starting last Tuesday. Offices in Kolkata were also targeted on two of these days. On Tuesday, an email threatening to blow up several courts, including the City Civil Court in Kolkata, was sent. On Wednesday, courts in other districts were targeted. Each time, people were safely evacuated and searched as per standard procedure, but nothing was found.

Following this, on Thursday, the Kolkata Passport Office received a threat. The investigation of the entire matter has now been handed over to the Kolkata Police Special Task Force (STF). Investigating agencies are trying to determine who or what gang is behind the continuous sending of fake threatening emails.

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

Hindusthan Samachar / Priyanka Pandey