Jharsuguda: An email threatening a bomb attack sent to the official account of the Jharsuguda district judge on Friday sparked a significant security alert. This incident led to the evacuation of the district and sessions court facilities, accompanied by extensive searches conducted by police and security teams.
Following the search operations, officials confirmed that the court complex was safe, determining the threat to be likely a hoax. The email, which reached the district judge’s official email address, alleged that 23 bombs had been planted within the judge’s office, chambers, and various sections of the court, set to detonate at approximately 1:15 PM.
The district judge’s office promptly alerted the district police. In response, the Jharsuguda district bar association issued a notice advising all lawyers, court personnel, and litigants to vacate the property and assist security forces during the search.
Jharsuguda Superintendent of Police G. R. Raghavendra reported that the email was received around 8 AM on Thursday. “Upon receiving the information, police, along with the dog squad and bomb squad, conducted a comprehensive search of the court grounds. No suspicious items were discovered, and the court was deemed entirely secure. At first glance, the email seems to be a hoax,” he stated.
Niladri Bihari Panda, the secretary of the district bar association, remarked, “Given that Jharsuguda is a sensitive area, everyone evacuated while the bomb squad conducted their investigation. So far, nothing of concern has been uncovered. Similar bomb threat emails have also been reported in other districts across Odisha.” Meanwhile, police have initiated a cyber investigation to identify the sender and confirm the email’s origin.
