ElectionSecurity – Bomb Threat Emails Trigger Court Evacuations in Bengal

ElectionSecurity –  Panic swept through several court complexes in West Bengal on Tuesday after district judges received emails warning of imminent explosions within court premises.

The anonymous messages, sent to judicial offices in Kolkata and multiple districts, claimed that blasts would occur within hours. The alarming communication led to immediate evacuations and large-scale security checks across at least six district courts, including two major court buildings in the state capital.

Courts Evacuated After Threatening Emails

Police officials confirmed that the City Civil and Sessions Court and the Bankshall Court in central Kolkata were among the first to be cleared. Sniffer dogs and bomb disposal teams were deployed to thoroughly inspect the premises after the email alleged that explosive devices had been planted inside the buildings. After detailed searches, no suspicious objects were found.

Similar precautionary measures were carried out at court complexes in Chinsurah in Hooghly district, Asansol and Durgapur in West Burdwan district, and Berhampore in Murshidabad district. Court activities were temporarily disrupted as officials ensured that judges, lawyers, and litigants were moved to safety.

By early afternoon, police said no explosives had been recovered from any of the affected locations. However, security presence was intensified across other judicial establishments in the state as a preventive step.

Link to Electoral Roll Verification Under Probe

Investigators are examining whether the emails are connected to the ongoing Special Intensive Revision of electoral rolls in the state. Judicial officers recently began scrutinizing documents submitted during the revision process, which commenced on January 23.

The timing of the threat has raised concerns because it came shortly after judicial officers were assigned verification responsibilities. Authorities are exploring whether the deployment of judges for the document review process may have prompted the messages.

On February 20, the Supreme Court directed the Election Commission of India to engage judicial officers to oversee the verification work and complete the final publication of electoral rolls by February 28. The apex court also instructed that around 250 acting and retired judicial officers from district courts in West Bengal be involved in resolving nearly six million disputed voter claims.

On Tuesday morning, the Supreme Court further allowed the inclusion of judicial officers from Odisha and Jharkhand to assist in handling the high volume of objections and claims filed during the revision exercise.

Emergency Meeting at Nabanna

In response to the bomb scare, Chief Secretary Nandini Chakraborty, Director General of Police Peeyush Pandey, and Kolkata Police Commissioner Supratim Sarkar convened an emergency meeting at the state secretariat, Nabanna.

Speaking to reporters after the meeting, Chakraborty said the state government was actively working to ensure the safety of all judicial officers involved in the revision process. She noted that investigators were trying to trace the origin of the emails, adding that the pattern of messages received across districts appeared similar.

The police commissioner stated that the cyber crime wing had begun efforts to identify the sender. Authorities have assured that strict action will follow once the source is determined.

Judicial Officers Raise Security Concerns

The incident comes amid reported concerns among some judicial officers about their safety while conducting verification work in sensitive districts such as Malda and Murshidabad. These apprehensions were reportedly discussed during a recent meeting with Calcutta High Court Chief Justice Sujoy Paul.

West Bengal Chief Electoral Officer Manoj Agarwal emphasized that adequate security arrangements must be provided for judicial officers engaged in the Special Intensive Revision exercise. Officials reiterated that ensuring their protection is essential to prevent any disruption to the electoral roll verification process.

While Tuesday’s searches did not uncover any explosives, the episode has heightened vigilance across the state’s judicial infrastructure. Authorities continue to investigate the source of the threatening emails as court proceedings gradually return to normal.