Bomb threat at Kullu District Court triggers panic

A bomb threat targeting the District and Sessions Court complex in Kullu triggered a swift response from law enforcement and security agencies on Wednesday.

The alert was raised after an email containing the threat was received, prompting immediate action from both the administration and police.

 As a precaution, the entire court complex was evacuated. Employees, lawyers, and members of the public were safely escorted from the premises to secure locations. Bomb disposal squads, along with police forces, rapid response teams, and a dog squad, were deployed to conduct an intensive search of the area. Senior police officials are currently on-site, closely monitoring the situation.

 Notably, this is not the first such incident in Kullu. A similar threat was received earlier this year, on May 1, targeting the Deputy Commissioner’s office. That alert ultimately proved to be a hoax, but the recurrence of such threats has heightened concern among security agencies.

Efforts are now underway to trace the origin of the latest threat. The police cyber cell has been tasked with identifying the sender of the email and determining its credibility.

Kullu Bar Association President Teja Thakur confirmed the threat, stating, “The court premises were evacuated after an email warning about a bomb was received.”

Kullu Superintendent of Police Karthikeyan Gokulachandran, also confirmed the alert. “We have taken immediate steps to ensure public safety and are working closely with cybercrime and law enforcement units to investigate the source of the threat,” he said. He further noted that security has been tightened across the district, including at key government buildings, transportation hubs, and schools. All entry and exit points are under enhanced surveillance.

In March, similar hoaxes disrupted government operations in Shimla and Mandi, and in April, multiple airports across India received bomb threats, resulting in temporary shutdowns and flight delays. While most of these threats have been found to be hoaxes, they have nonetheless caused significant disruption and heightened public anxiety.