A man has been arrested in Noida, Uttar Pradesh, for allegedly sending bomb threat messages in Mumbai. Police have seized his mobile phone and SIM card and he is being transported to Mumbai for further investigation. Reportedly, the man has been identified as Ashwin Kumar Supra, 50, a resident of Bihar.
The Mumbai Police have been put on high alert after receiving a threat message claiming that 14 terrorists had entered the city with 400 kilograms of RDX, allegedly planted in 34 vehicles, an official said on Friday.
“The organisation, claiming to be ‘Lashkar-e-Jihadi’, says that 14 Pakistani terrorists have entered India. The threat message further states that 400 kgs of RDX will be used in the blast,” the Mumbai Police said.
The message was sent to the traffic police’s official WhatsApp helpline on Thursday, even as the force was busy with security arrangements for Anant Chaturdashi, the concluding day of the Ganesh festival, to be observed on Saturday.
According to the official, the same helpline had previously received similar messages, which later turned out to be hoaxes. The Crime Branch has begun a probe, while the Anti-Terrorism Squad (ATS) and other security agencies have also been alerted.
Case registered, investigation underway
The sender, who identified an organisation named ‘Lashkar-e-Jihadi’ in the message, claimed that 14 terrorists had infiltrated Mumbai and planted explosives in vehicles across the city. A case has been registered and further investigation is underway, the official added.
A case has been registered at the Worli police station against an unidentified person under Section 351 (criminal intimidation) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, along with sub-sections 2, 3, and 4, an official said.
Preliminary investigation suggests the threat may be a hoax, but police are tracing the source of the message through technical analysis, the official added. He stressed that maximum precautions are being taken, particularly with large crowds expected on immersion day.
Mumbai Police on high alert
Over 21,000 police personnel will be deployed across Mumbai to ensure law and order during idol immersions. Lakhs of devotees are expected to take to the streets on Saturday as the city bids farewell to Lord Ganesh with immersions in the sea, local lakes, and artificial ponds.
“Traffic police have received such bomb threat messages in the past, which turned out to be false alarms. There is no need to panic. Security has been strengthened at key locations, and combing operations are in progress. Citizens are urged not to believe rumours and to immediately report any suspicious activity,” another official said.