Bengaluru: KIA under attack! Hoax bomb caller issues 4th threat in a week
Bengaluru: A bomb threat call, which was later found to be a hoax, created panic at the Kempegowda International Airport (KIA) on Monday, prompting security officials to conduct exhaustive checks on flights.
It was the fourth threat call to the KIA in a week by the same man, who identifies himself as Adithya Rao from Kundapur. The last call he made was to the Terminal Manager of Air Asia at 12.42 pm on Friday.
Rao on Monday noon called from the mobile number 944XXXXX65 and warned the Terminal Manager that improvised explosive devices (IED) have been placed in seven flights of Air Asia, Jet Airways and Air India. The caller gave in the flight numbers in which the IEDs are planted including the flight from Bengaluru to Kochi which was already suspended due to floods.
The sleuths of Central Industrial Security Forces (CISF) and local police launched a search but found nothing. This is not the first time Adithya has made a hoax call to the KIA. His first call was on August 20 at 9.46 am from 888XXXXX96 and claimed that IEDs have been planted in some flights. He again called up at 3.46 pm to issue the same threat.
On August 23, he again called at 11.04 am from 962XXXXX44 and told the Terminal Manager that IEDs planted in airlines could go off any time. The KIA officials have lodged a complaint with the Airport police.
The police have identified the caller and are making efforts to nab him. So far, the intentions of the caller could not be ascertained as he has randomly picked up the flight numbers.
Hoax call at city rail station too
Panic gripped the City Railway Station too on Monday when a similar bomb threat call was made to the station. The caller claimed that IEDs have been planted in Cloak Room and could go off any time. The Railway Police along with bomb detection and dog squads carried out a thorough search at the Cloak Room but found nothing. A case has been registered and the police suspect that it is the same person who called the KIA issued a threat at the city railway station too.
