Panic briefly gripped the sports world and the city of Ahmedabad on Wednesday morning after a threat email claimed that bombs were planted inside the iconic Narendra Modi Stadium during an ongoing international match.
The venue, which was hosting the second multi-day fixture between the India Under-19 and Australia Under-19 teams, was immediately placed on high alert alongside several major educational institutions and the Gujarat High Court.
Local authorities and cybercrime officials later declared the incident a widespread hoax following extensive anti-sabotage sweeps.
Threat Received Mid-Match
The threatening communication arrived via email around 11:00 AM IST, reaching stadium authorities, the Gujarat High Court, and multiple prominent private schools—including Asia School, Bodakdev School for Children, SGVP School, Zydus School in Vejalpur, and Sant Kabir School.
The message was received while young cricketers from India and Australia were on the field at Ground A of the Motera stadium complex. To maintain calm and ensure order, match officials and security teams opted not to notify the players immediately, as the day’s play concluded normally at around 11:15 AM IST.
Once play ceased, security teams briefed team management. Following established protocol, both squads were safely escorted out of the stadium complex shortly after 1:00 PM IST.
Pro-Khalistan Slogans Target Diljit Dosanjh’s Tour
According to law enforcement officials, the emails were sent using pro-Khalistan pseudonyms and carried slogans such as ‘Bolega Khalistan’ and ‘Khalistan Zindabad’.
Rather than focusing solely on cricket, the sender explicitly urged parents not to send their children to upcoming stadium shows by Punjabi sensation Diljit Dosanjh. The email explicitly named two venue dates from Dosanjh’s upcoming tour:
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Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium, Delhi: November 1 performance
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Narendra Modi Stadium, Ahmedabad: November 21 concert
Quick Response & Investigation
Upon receiving the alert, school administrators and venue managers contacted the local police. Units from the Cyber Cell, the Bomb Detection and Disposal Squad (BDDS), and sniffer dog teams were dispatched across all named locations.
“We informed the local police as soon as we received the email. This has happened a couple of times earlier as well, including during the World Cup 2023 and IPL,” noted Anil Patel, Secretary of the Gujarat Cricket Association (GCA).
| Location Target | Operational Impact | Inspection Status |
| Narendra Modi Stadium | Players evacuated at 1:00 PM IST post-match | Cleared (Hoax) |
| Gujarat High Court | Heightened security checks | Cleared (Hoax) |
| City Schools (10+) | Protocol sweeps & administrative alerts | Cleared (Hoax) |
Following comprehensive sweeps across all targets, the police confirmed that no explosive devices or suspicious items were found, officially closing the alert as a deliberate hoax. The Gujarat Police Cyber Cell is currently tracing the digital footprint and IP addresses used to send the malicious emails.
