Pathankot on alert after emails threaten IED blasts at civic office, school | Chandigarh News
Pathankot: Security was heightened across Pathankot on Monday after threatening emails claiming planned IED blasts at the Pathankot Municipal Corporation office, a school and other sensitive installations triggered precautionary checks by police and security agencies.According to police sources, the threat email was received at three different locations in the district, prompting immediate security measures and thorough searches of the premises.However, no suspicious object or explosive material was found during the searches.Senior superintendent of police (SSP) Daljinder Singh Dhillon said the emails appear to be bogus and that no authenticity has been established so far.“At present, nothing has been found to substantiate the claims made in the email. It apparently appears to be a fake threat. However, as a precautionary measure, the cyber wing of the district police is carrying out its investigation to trace the origin of the email, while all standard security protocols have been put in place,” he said.Police sources said the email claimed to have been sent in the name of a Khalistan-linked organisation and carried references to both Sikh and Muslim names at the end of the message.Investigators are examining the authenticity of these claims as part of the probe and have not drawn any conclusions regarding the sender’s identity.The threatening message reportedly referred to attacks on the Pathankot Municipal Corporation office, a school and certain other sensitive locations.It also contained inflammatory content and attempted to create panic by mentioning specific timings for the alleged blasts.Sources informed that threat was also given to Punjab chief minister Bhagwant Mann and former Central Minister Ravneet Bittu.SSP said that following the alert, police teams conducted extensive searches at the identified locations, while security was stepped up at key government establishments and other vulnerable points in the district.The cyber wing is analysing technical evidence, including the email’s digital trail, to identify its source.Police officials pointed out that similar threat emails have been received in various parts of Punjab in past, targeting government establishments and public places.Those threats were thoroughly investigated and were eventually found to be hoaxes. Nevertheless, authorities said every such communication is treated seriously until verified to ensure there is no risk to public safety.
