Panic gripped several courts in Odisha after fresh bomb threats arrived through anonymous emails, and authorities swiftly evacuated premises while intensifying security measures.
At the Cuttack District Judge Court, officials received an email warning of explosives inside the premises. Consequently, police cordoned off the area and deployed bomb disposal squads. The incident followed closely after a similar threat targeted the Orissa High Court.
Meanwhile, in the Phulbani District Court, Kandhamal, another email threatened to blow up the premises. Authorities immediately evacuated magistrates, lawyers, staff, and visitors. In addition, ASP Ramendra Prasad and SDPO officers supervised heavy police deployment, while bomb and dog squads carried out intensive searches.
Similarly, the Puri District Court received a bomb threat via email. Police evacuated the premises and began thorough checks with detection teams and sniffer dogs. Moreover, senior officers, including SP Prateek Singh and City DSP Rashmi Ranjan Mahapatra, reached the site to oversee the investigation.
In another case, an email sent in the name of the LTTE threatened to blow up the Jajpur District Judge Court. The sender, identifying himself as “Arun,” claimed links to the Sri Lankan Tamil militant group and warned that the court would be destroyed by noon. Authorities immediately evacuated all courtrooms, and senior officials, including SP Yaspratap Srimal, SDPO Prashant Kumar Majhi, and Jajpur Road SDPO Sarat Chandra Patra, rushed to the spot with armed police forces. After extensive searches until 1 pm, police found no explosives, and court proceedings resumed.
Furthermore, panic spread in the Sambalpur District Court after another email warned of a bomb. Police and bomb squads evacuated the complex and searched all chambers. Proceedings remained disrupted during the morning session but resumed after 3 pm once the premises were declared safe.
Officials confirmed that similar threats targeted multiple courts, raising concerns about repeated attempts to spread fear. Additionally, Cyber Police launched investigations to trace the origin of the emails, with preliminary inputs suggesting that some may have originated from outside the country.
The repeated threats created anxiety among judges, lawyers, staff, and residents, who expressed concern over the safety of judicial institutions. Nevertheless, authorities assured that strict measures are being taken and urged people not to believe rumours, while investigations continue to determine links between the incidents reported in Cuttack, Jajpur, Puri, Phulbani, and Sambalpur.
