North India Statesman
News India Live, Digital Desk: The capital of Bihar is once again under security cover. On Thursday morning, an unknown person called the Registrar of Patna Civil Court on his phone and threatened to blow up the entire court building with a bomb. After this incident, judicial work has come to a halt and the entire complex has been converted into a cantonment.
1. Description of the Incident
Threat time: On the morning of Thursday, February 12.
Means of threat: Through phone calls and emails to the Registrar.
alert: The caller warned that this time the entire building would be destroyed. Earlier on Wednesday (February 11) too, an email threat of ‘5 blasts at 1 pm’ was received.
Administrative response: Police, Bomb Disposal Squad (BDDS) and Dog Squad of Pirbahore police station immediately reached the spot and started the search operation. All three main gates of the court have been sealed.
2. Impact on Pappu Yadav’s bail plea
The threat has had a direct impact on the judicial process:
Hearing postponed: The bail plea of independent MP Pappu Yadav was to be heard today. His appearance was proposed in an old case of 2017 related to obstructing government work.
Constant Delay: His hearing could not be held on Monday (9 February) and Wednesday (11 February) also due to bomb threats. His supporters and lawyers have termed it a ‘conspiracy’ to stop his appearance.
MPs will remain in jail: Due to postponement of court proceedings due to threats, Pappu Yadav will have to remain in Beur jail for the time being.
3. Lawyers’ anger and questions on security
There is a lot of anger among the lawyers due to the repeated threats:
Protest: The lawyers staged a protest at the court gate and raised slogans against the police administration. He says that if the court premises itself is not safe, then what will happen to the common man?
Security Defaults: Lawyers have demanded permanent security solutions and active monitoring of CCTV cameras.
Investigation till now (Current Status)
Search Operation: No suspicious object or explosive has been recovered so far in the investigation till noon. The police are considering it as a ‘hoax’ (rumor), but do not want to take any risk.
Digital Clues: Cyber cell is trying to track the IP address of the email and the call location. Words like ‘Kanimozhi’ and ‘Pakistani ISI’ had been mentioned in previous threats.
