In a concerning development, three prominent hotels in Bengaluru, including The Oterra, received bomb threat emails, prompting swift action by the Bengaluru Police. Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCP) South East Bengaluru confirmed the receipt of the threatening emails, which indicated the possibility of imminent bomb blasts.
Upon receiving information about the menacing emails, the Bengaluru Police took immediate action, deploying bomb disposal and detection teams to the affected locations. The prompt response aimed to ensure the safety of hotel guests and staff, as well as to prevent any potential disaster. The police teams conducted thorough sweeps of the premises to detect and neutralize any threats.
This incident follows closely on the heels of a similar threat directed towards North Block, which houses the Ministry of Home Affairs in Delhi. The threat was later determined to be a hoax, but it underscored the growing trend of bomb threat emails causing widespread alarm. In April, a series of hoax bomb threat emails targeted schools in Delhi-NCR, Jaipur, Uttar Pradesh, and Bengaluru, creating panic before being debunked as false alarms.
The spate of such threats has raised concerns about the adequacy of measures to address them. The Delhi High Court has demanded a comprehensive report on the matter, reflecting the judiciary’s involvement in ensuring public safety. In response, the Delhi Police submitted a detailed report on May 17, outlining the deployment of multiple bomb disposal squads and detection teams across various city ranges. This report aimed to assure the court and the public of the steps being taken to safeguard schools and other vulnerable institutions.
Despite these measures, petitioners have raised apprehensions about the lack of a cohesive action plan to protect students and educational institutions. With a significant number of schools falling under different jurisdictional ranges, there are calls for a more unified and effective strategy to prevent and respond to such threats.
In light of the recent surge in transnational organized cybercrimes, particularly originating from South East Asian nations like Cambodia, the Indian government has taken proactive steps. An inter-ministerial committee comprising law enforcement and intelligence agencies has been formed to tackle these cyber threats. This committee aims to enhance coordination and develop comprehensive strategies to address the evolving nature of cybercrimes and associated threats.
