BHUBANESWAR: Functioning of courts in at least five districts of Cuttack, Puri, Jajpur, Bargarh and Kandhamal were disrupted after threat emails resurfaced again, prompting evacuations, suspension of proceedings and intensive security checks.
In Cuttack, the District and Sessions Judge Court received an anonymous email on Friday warning of an explosive device inside the premises. Court proceedings were immediately stopped and judges, lawyers, staff and people were evacuated as a precaution.
The entire court was cordoned off while bomb disposal squads, dog squads and special tactical teams carried out a comprehensive anti-sabotage operation. No explosive or suspicious object was found.
DCP Khilari Rishikesh Dnyandeo said the police and the Crime Branch cyber cell were tracing the origin of the email.
In Puri, the District and Sessions Judge Court also received an email stating bombs were planted in the building to blast it. As panic spread, police vacated the entire judiciary complex. After a three-hour search, no trace of the bomb was found.
Puri SP Pratik Singh said a criminal case had been registered and investigation is underway to identify the email sender.
The District and Sessions Court in Jajpur and the Additional District and Sessions Court at Jajpur Road received similar mails. Jajpur SP Yash Pratap Shrimal said no explosives were detected and security had been tightened.
The District Judge courts at Phulbani in Kandhamal and Bargarh districts also received bomb threats triggering emergency security measures. An inspection was also conducted at Sambalpur Court.
This is the second bomb threat incident in the last one month. On January 8, several courts in the state had received bomb threat through email.