By Arun Pratap Singh
Garhwal Post Bureau
Dehradun, 18 Feb: Panic gripped the District Court in the State capital today after a bomb threat was received in the state for the third consecutive day, prompting an immediate evacuation of the entire court complex and the launch of an extensive search operation by the police and the security agencies. As in previous cases, the threat was conveyed through an e-mail addressed to the office of the District Judge, triggering swift precautionary measures.
As soon as information regarding the alleged presence of a bomb in the Dehradun District Court premises was received, chaos ensued within the complex. Judicial officers, the court staff and the lawyers were hurriedly escorted out to safe locations. The Court premises were completely vacated. The Police teams conducted a thorough search of the entire campus to ensure the safety of all present.
Senior Superintendent of Police Pramendra Dobal also reached the spot along with his team immediately after the threat mail came to light. All the judges and the members of the Bar were moved out of the courtrooms, and barricading was put in place around the complex as a precautionary measure. The situation created an atmosphere of tension and alarm across the area.
Initial investigations into the e-mail that carried the threat have reportedly has raised suspicion of the possible involvement of a Pakistani organisation, although the officials have refrained from making any conclusive statement at this stage. The development led to widespread apprehension among litigants and lawyers alike. The court premises were sealed temporarily while police personnel and specialised units carried out detailed inspections.
Manmohan Kandwal, President of the Bar Association, confirmed to the media that a threatening e-mail had been received at the office of the District Judge. He stated that the campus was immediately evacuated in view of security considerations and that police teams were engaged in intensive investigation. He emphasised that safety remains the foremost priority and that all concerned were complying with official directions. He also noted that in the backdrop of repeated threats, heightened vigilance had become imperative.
It may be recalled that similar bomb threats have recently been reported from several district courts across Uttarakhand, including Haridwar, Uttarkashi, Rudraprayag, Tehri, Pithoragarh and Nainital. In each of these instances, the subsequent searches did not yield any suspicious objects or explosive materials but the threats did cause considerable disruption and panic. The Police and intelligence agencies have treated the incidents with utmost seriousness while also examining the possibility of mischief by anti-social elements.
The officials stated that the series of threats began on Sunday, 16 February, when courts in Nainital and Uttarkashi first received threatening messages. The following day, courts in Pithoragarh, Tehri, Rudraprayag and Haridwar were targeted with similar warnings. On Monday, fresh threats were again reported in Uttarkashi and Nainital, followed by today’s incident in Dehradun.
Bomb Disposal Squad and Dog Squad teams were pressed into service at the Dehradun court complex today after the mail was received. SP City Pramod Kumar shared that upon receipt of information from the office of the District Judge in the morning, the police teams immediately reached the spot and ensured that all individuals inside the premises were safely evacuated. A comprehensive search of courtrooms, offices and adjoining areas was undertaken. After no suspicious object was found, permission was subsequently granted for normal functioning to resume within the premises.
Meanwhile, in Haridwar, security was similarly tightened at the District Court located in Roshanabad after a threatening e-mail claimed that the premises would be blown up using RDX. This morning, bomb disposal squad personnel and the police teams carried out meticulous checks across the campus. Although nothing suspicious was detected, security arrangements have since been strengthened, and adequate deployment of police, intelligence and BDS personnel has been ensured.
The threatening e-mail received on 17 February at the official e-mail ID of the Roshanabad District Court in Haridwar had alleged that explosive devices had been planted inside the Judge’s chamber and warned that the premises should be vacated before noon. The message also contained references to EWS reservation and included remarks about preventing its implementation. The communication created a flutter within the administration and police establishment, leading to immediate inspection and enhanced deployment of security forces.
At present, police authorities across the affected districts have launched coordinated investigations, treating the matter as highly sensitive. Cyber teams are engaged in tracing the origin of the e-mails, while intelligence agencies remain on alert. Though no explosives have been found in any of the courts so far, the repeated threats have prompted the administration to maintain heightened security and sustained vigilance across judicial establishments in the State.
