New Delhi, 01 April (H.S.):

The office of Delhi Mayor Raja Iqbal Singh, located in the Civic Centre, received a bomb‑threat email on Wednesday, triggering an immediate security alert and a detailed search of the entire complex, police sources said. The threat, which claimed that the office would be blown up at around 2.11 pm, has so far turned out to be a hoax, with no suspicious object or person found during the multicore inspection. Nevertheless, the Delhi Police and other security agencies have significantly tightened vigilance around the area.

High‑Alert Security Sweep at Civic Centre

After the threatening email was reported, a special team of Delhi Police, the Bomb Disposal Squad and the Dog Squad, along with local‑area officers, rushed to the Civic Centre. The entire complex—including the mayor’s office, other administrative offices, basement levels and parking areas—was subjected to a thorough, systematic check.

Entry and exit points were cordoned off, and vehicular and pedestrian movement in the vicinity was brought under strict scrutiny.

Officials said the detailed search, which lasted several hours, uncovered no explosive material or any other sign of threat. However, security has been upgraded in the surrounding locality, with additional patrolling, controlled access and heightened monitoring of CCTV feeds ordered. Security staff deployed at the Civic Centre have been briefed to allow entry only after verification and to report any abnormal activity to local police immediately.

Alleged ‘Khalistan National Army’ Threat

According to police, the threat was sent via email to the mayor’s official ID, specifically mentioning that the office would be bombed at 2.11 pm. The message was reportedly sent in the name of a group calling itself the “Khalistan National Army” and contained inflammatory and separatist language. The email has been handed over to cyber‑forensic teams, which are analysing its origin and metadata to trace the sender and ascertain whether it is an isolated hoax or part of a broader pattern of digital intimidation.

Officials stressed that, despite the lack of a physical threat, every angle is being examined as a precautionary measure. The Bomb Disposal Squad and the Dog Squad, which were deployed on‑site, have been kept on standby while the investigation continues.

Political Concern Over Mayor’s Safety

Meanwhile, Opposition Leader in the Municipal Corporation of Delhi, Ankush Narang, expressed concern over the incident, questioning the security arrangements for the capital’s top elected representative.

On the social‑media platform X, Ankush Narang wrote that the capital’s security system had “failed” if the mayor’s office could receive such a threat, even under what he termed a “four‑engine” government. He added that the mayor himself was not safe, underscoring worries about the vulnerability of high‑profile civic and political institutions in the city.

Recurring Threats to Delhi Buildings

The latest episode follows a similar bomb‑threat email that targeted the Delhi Legislative Assembly during its budget session, where a message warning of a blast prompted a full‑scale evacuation and security sweep. In that case, too, no explosive device or credible threat was found. The recurrence of such threats has prompted authorities to review and strengthen digital‑security protocols, internet‑based monitoring, and information‑sharing mechanisms between cyber teams, police and intelligence agencies, in an effort to prevent panic and protect key public‑service buildings in the national capital.

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Hindusthan Samachar / Jun Sarkar