Bomb threats trigger high alert at courts in Cuttack, Puri, Phulbani

Panic gripped several district judge courts across Odisha on Friday after bomb threats were received via email, triggering high alert and massive security operations in Cuttack, Puri and Phulbani.

The Cuttack District Judge Court was the first to receive a threatening email warning that the premises would be blown up using bombs. Soon after, similar bomb threat emails were sent to the district judge courts in Puri and Phulbani, prompting immediate action by court authorities and the police.

Following the threats, the court premises were evacuated as a precautionary measure. Police, along with bomb disposal squads, dog squads and sniffer dogs, conducted extensive searches in and around the court complexes. The sudden threats created panic among lawyers, litigants and court staff, particularly in Cuttack, where a fresh bomb threat email was reported.

Security arrangements were tightened in all the affected courts, with authorities thoroughly sanitising the premises before considering the resumption of court proceedings. In Puri and Phulbani, too, police launched similar search operations to rule out any potential threat.

Puri Superintendent of Police Prateek Singh said efforts are underway to trace the source of the emails and identify those behind the threats. “The DB Squad, dog squad, and sniffer dogs were deployed immediately to thoroughly check and sanitise the court premises. We are also verifying parked vehicles and will ensure complete security before court operations resume,” he said.

Meanwhile, lawyers at the Cuttack District Judge Court voiced concern over the repeated bomb threats, alleging that such incidents could have been prevented had earlier cases been properly investigated and the accused arrested. They urged the authorities to get to the root of the recurring threat emails.

Also Read: Fresh bomb threat email triggers security alert at Cuttack District Judge Court

Advocate General Pitambar Acharya said preliminary discussions with police and security agencies indicate that the hoax emails may have originated from the dark web. He added that the intention behind the emails was to spread panic, and Friday’s threat appeared to be another such attempt.

No suspicious objects have been found so far, and further updates are awaited as security agencies continue their investigation and security checks.