Bomb threat emails spark evacuations at multiple courts in Shimla

A bomb threat email caused panic at the District Courts premises in Shimla today, prompting immediate evacuation and heightened security. The email claimed that explosives had been planted within the court complex and warned of imminent Improvised Explosive Device (IED) and suicide RDX blasts.

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Acting swiftly, a bomb disposal squad, accompanied by sniffer dogs and police personnel, conducted a thorough search and sanitization of the premises. However, no explosive material was found.

A similar threat email was also received by the District and Sessions Court in Rampur, Shimla district. The entire court building was evacuated and a detailed search was carried out, which again yielded no suspicious material.

In a worrying pattern, identical threat emails were sent to the District and Sessions Courts in Kullu, Nahan and Chamba. All premises were promptly cleared and inspected by security forces, with no explosives discovered.

Police officials confirmed the incidents and said the situation is now under control. Efforts are underway to trace the origin of the threat emails.

These incidents mark the latest in a series of bomb threat hoaxes in Himachal Pradesh. Over the past few months, similar emails have targeted the Himachal Pradesh Secretariat, Chief Secretary’s office, High Court and Deputy Commissioners’ offices in Mandi, Chamba and Hamirpur. All have turned out to be false alarms.

Authorities have assured that security remains tight and necessary precautions are in place to respond to any real threat. Investigations are ongoing to identify those behind these repeated hoaxes.

In a statement, Director General of Police (DGP) Ashok Tewari said the threatening emails received across Himachal Pradesh appear to have a common origin, as their contents are similar. The emails were reportedly sent in the name of former Anna University students. He noted that 8 to 10 such threats have been received in the state recently, with FIRs registered in Kullu and Shimla districts.

Investigations are ongoing to trace the source. Similar threats have been reported in other states over the past year. In a related development, the Kerala Police have arrested an accused individual. The Himachal Pradesh Police are working to secure the suspect’s custody for further interrogation as part of the ongoing probe.

Major security op at Kullu court

Our Correspondent

Kullu, July 9

A bomb threat targeting the District and Sessions Court complex in Kullu triggered a swift response from law enforcement and security agencies today. The threat, received via email, prompted the immediate evacuation of the court premises, including employees, lawyers and members of the public.

Bomb disposal squads, rapid response teams, police forces and a dog squad were deployed to thoroughly search the complex. Senior police officials, including the Superintendent of Police, monitored the situation on-site.

Kullu SP Karthikeyan Gokulachandran confirmed the incident, stating that all necessary precautions were taken to ensure public safety. “We are working closely with cybercrime units to trace the origin of the threat and assess its credibility,” he said. Security has since been tightened across the district, with enhanced surveillance at government buildings, transportation hubs and educational institutions. Kullu Bar Association president Teja Thakur also confirmed the threat, noting that the evacuation was carried out swiftly following the warning.

This is not the first such scare in the region. A similar bomb threat was made on May 1 this year, targeting the Deputy Commissioner’s office in Kullu, which later turned out to be a hoax.

The incident forms part of a larger pattern of threats across Himachal Pradesh in recent months. Earlier this year, hoax threats disrupted operations in Shimla and Mandi, while in April, multiple airports across India faced bomb threat emails, causing temporary shutdowns and flight delays.

Though most of these threats have proven false, they have stirred public anxiety and disrupted normalcy. Authorities are urging residents to remain calm, avoid rumor-mongering and report any suspicious activity or objects. Investigations are ongoing, with the cyber cell actively working to identify the sender and motive behind the email.

Panic grips Chamba, Tissa court complexes

Our Correspondent

Chamba, July 9

Panic gripped the Chamba and Tissa court complexes on Wednesday after a suspicious email threatening to blow up both premises was received on the official email address of the District Court.

Soon after receiving the threat, court authorities alerted the police. Security teams rushed to the spot, immediately evacuated the premises and launched a thorough search operation.

Police personnel, along with bomb disposal squads and sniffer dogs, inspected each room and area inside and outside the court complexes. However, no suspicious object was found during the hours-long search.

As a precaution, judicial officers, lawyers, court staff and people who had come for various legal matters were kept outside the complex until the area was declared safe. Court proceedings resumed only after the complete security check and clearance.

Earlier in April, a similar bomb threat was received via email at the official address of the Deputy Commissioner’s office in Chamba. That threat also turned out to be a hoax, but led to a full-scale security operation. Police and security agencies remain on high alert and have urged citizens to remain vigilant and report any suspicious activities.