A wave of coordinated bomb threats sent shockwaves across West Bengal’s judicial system on Tuesday, triggering large-scale evacuations and security sweeps in courts across multiple districts, including Kolkata, Asansol, Hooghly, Berhampore and Contai.
The most dramatic scenes unfolded at the City Civil Court building in central Kolkata, located just behind the Calcutta High Court. The building, which hears a significant number of civil and criminal matters daily, was functioning as usual when the office of the Chief Judge received an email around 11 a.m, warning of a bomb inside the premises. The message, however, did not specify the location of the alleged explosive device. Acting swiftly, the Chief Judge ordered an immediate search of the building. Personnel from Kolkata Police rushed to the spot, accompanied by bomb disposal squads and sniffer dogs. As a precautionary measure, the second and third floors of the court complex were evacuated. The bomb scare also caused anxiety in the adjoining High Court premises, disrupting normal proceedings for a considerable time.
Police sources said the email was being examined to determine its origin. Though initial indications suggested it could be a hoax, authorities refused to take any chances given the sensitivity of the location and the presence of litigants, lawyers and court staff. The situation was not confined to Kolkata.
Similar threatening emails were reportedly sent to lower courts in several districts. In Asansol, the District and Sessions Judge received a bomb threat from an unidentified email ID, claiming that an explosive device had been planted in the court complex and would detonate around 1 p.m. The premises were promptly evacuated, and police, along with sniffer dogs, launched an extensive search operation. District Judge Debaprasad Nag told reporters that the threat message purportedly came from an organisation. “It may turn out to be a fake email. But in the interest of the safety of the public, lawyers and court employees present here, we have initiated a thorough search. The bomb squad has arrived,” he said.
A similar alert was reported from the Hooghly District Court, where the threatening email claimed that 10 RDX devices had been placed inside the court premises and would be detonated in the afternoon. Security was tightened immediately, and the court complex was cleared to facilitate inspection. Officials indicated that near-identical messages were received in multiple districts, raising concerns about a coordinated attempt to create panic. Investigators are examining whether the threats originated from a single source or multiple actors working in tandem.
The timing of the threats has added a layer of political sensitivity. With the state heading into a crucial election season, and judges recently entrusted with responsibilities linked to Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls, questions are being raised about possible motives behind the scare. Senior officials declined to speculate but acknowledged that all angles, including cross-border links, were under scrutiny. Chief Electoral Officer Manoj Kumar Agarwal stated that under the leadership of the Director General of Police, security arrangements would be strengthened and, if necessary, central forces deployed to ensure the safety of judicial officers and court premises. While no explosives had been found till late evening, the unprecedented scale of the threats has sparked serious concerns about attempts to instil fear within the judiciary and the public at a politically sensitive juncture. Investigations are continuing.
Chief Secretary Nandini Chakraborty said that adequate measures were taken to evacuate the courts and no explosive was found in any court. “Police are continuing the investigation. Courts resumed after the search operations,” she said.