The city of Bhubaneswar was in a state of panic on Thursday, as a series of hoax emails threatened to bomb various court premises, including the esteemed Orissa High Court. As a result, all judicial work was suspended for hours, causing a major disruption in the legal system. However, Law Minister Prithiviraj Harichandan reassured the public by announcing that operations had resumed around 3 pm.
These anonymous emails were also sent to courts in Cuttack, Sambalpur, and Deogarh, causing Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi to order a thorough investigation and the police to conduct search operations. Fortunately, no suspicious devices were found, easing the tension in the city. Minister Harichandan addressed the media and assured them that similar threats had been received by courts in other parts of the country and that there was no need to panic. He also stated that the source of these messages would be identified soon.
Advocate General Pitambar Acharya confirmed that work had resumed in the Orissa High Court and three district courts after security personnel completed their search operations. DGP Y B Khurania also added that the police had taken necessary precautions by evacuating the courts, conducting thorough checks, and enhancing security measures at all locations. He also mentioned that he had informed the Chief Minister and the additional chief secretary of the Home department as soon as the emails were received.
Chief Minister Majhi immediately held discussions with senior officials, directing them to identify the culprits and determine the motive behind these threats. He emphasized the importance of protecting the lives of the citizens and stated that there should be no complacency in this matter. Meanwhile, the Orissa High Court in Cuttack was evacuated and thoroughly searched by the police, with the help of sniffer dogs, bomb disposal squads, and additional personnel. Thankfully, no suspicious devices were found.
The premises were cleared of judges, lawyers, and litigants, allowing authorities to conduct a thorough search. Cyber experts were also brought in to trace the origin of these threatening emails. Opposition leader and BJD president Naveen Patnaik also expressed his concern over these threats and urged the authorities to conduct a swift and thorough investigation. He appealed to the public to remain calm and not spread rumors, while extending their cooperation to the security agencies.
BJD spokesperson Lenin Mohanty criticized the state government for not taking these threats seriously and creating an atmosphere of fear in various courts across the state. He cited the previous incidents of threatening emails received by journalists that were ignored by the government. However, the situation was brought under control, and the citizens could breathe a sigh of relief. Orissa POST, the state's leading English daily, covered the entire incident and assured the public that the government was taking all necessary measures to ensure their safety.
