Bomb Threat Triggers Security Scare at District Courts in AP

NELLORE: Tension prevailed at several district courts in Andhra Pradesh on Thursday after bomb threat emails triggered extensive security operations in Anantapur, Chittoor and Eluru.

In Anantapur, bomb threat emails were received by the district court, addressed to the record assistant and first-class additional district magistrates, causing panic among court staff, lawyers and litigants. District Principal Judge Bhima Rao confirmed that the threats were received through email and were immediately brought to the notice of the police.

Court staff alerted the police, following which the court premises were cordoned off. As a precautionary measure, lawyers and litigants present in the court complex were evacuated from all courts, and proceedings were temporarily suspended.

Dog squads, bomb disposal squads and clue teams carried out an intensive search of the entire court complex. After thorough checks, police teams concluded that no explosives were found and suspected the email to be a hoax. The emails were formally handed over to the police by judicial officers, and an investigation was initiated to trace the source.

In Eluru, District Judge Sridevi received an email claiming that a bomb had been planted in the district court. Teams from the bomb detection squad, dog squad and local police rushed to the spot. The court premises were evacuated and searched thoroughly from 1.15 pm to 4 pm in the presence of the district judge. The threat later proved to be a hoax. A case was registered at the Three Town police station, and efforts are under way to identify the sender of the email.

In Chittoor, similar alerts led to the evacuation of the court premises and detailed security checks. Police intensified security across district courts and launched a probe into the threatening emails.

Police officials said investigations were continuing to trace the origin of the emails and to prevent any recurrence of such incidents.