Bomb scare triggers 5-hour search at District Courts in Chandigarh

Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, January 24

The UT police today launched a massive search operation at the District Courts, Sector 43, following a bomb alert, which later turned out to be a hoax, ahead of Republic Day. The search lasted around five hours.

The police said as soon as the information was received at 11.01 am, police teams, including a bomb disposal squad, were rushed to the scene and a search was conducted.

Judges, court staff, lawyers and visitors were evacuated and the entire courts complex, located next to the busy ISBT, Sector 43, was vacated, disrupting its functioning for the rest of the day. The complex was cordoned off and the road leading to it was closed to traffic.

Following the alert, a search operation was also carried out at the ISBT. The bomb disposal squad accompanied by a dog squad searched the luggage of passengers.

Sources said a handwritten note threatening terror attacks at the ISBT-43, district courts complexes in Chandigarh and Panchkula, put the security apparatus on a heightened alert across the tricity. The note in Hindi, found in the washroom of the District Courts, Sector 1, Panchkula, stated attacks would be carried out before 1 pm. UT SSP Manisha Chaudhary said the Chandigarh police control room received information about a bomb threat from their counterparts in Haryana, following which the police teams, including the Operations Cell, launched a search operation in the courts complex.

Unclaimed bag found

A bag containing a lunch box and a water bottle was found abandoned. On search using bomb detection devices, nothing suspicious was found inside. Manisha Chaudhary, UT SSP

“During the search, an unclaimed bag containing a lunch box and a water bottle, was found abandoned. Our teams examined it with the help of bomb detection devices. However, nothing suspicious was found inside the bag,” SSP said. Taking extra caution, the police also informed the Army about the suspicious bag, following which a bomb disposal team from Chandimandir reached the courts complex here. The team, including Col JS Sandhu and Col Anshuman Bhadauria, inspected the tiffin. After inspection, the Army ruled out the presence of explosives. A police official said someone might have left the bag during evacuation, but as per the standard operating procedure, they had to follow all necessary steps.

The lawyers, however, kept waiting for the search operation to conclude as their vehicles were parked inside the complex. The lawyers were allowed to move their vehicles out around 4.30 pm.

In the wake of terror alert, security at the Punjab and Haryana High Court was also stepped up.

Police officials said since the letter was found in Panchkula, they would take up the matter with the Haryana Police for necessary action.

Note in washroom

• A handwritten note threatening terror attacks at district courts complexes in Chandigarh & Panchkula, and ISBT-43 sent cops into a tizzy
• Note in Hindi, found in a washroom at District Courts, Sec 1, Panchkula, claimed attacks would be carried out before 1 pm; UT cops alerted

Army team inspects tiffin box

An Army bomb disposal team from Chandimandir visited Sector 43 courts complex. It inspected a tiffin found in an unclaimed bag. After inspection, it ruled out the presence of explosives.

Alert sounded at 11 am, Ops end at 4.30 pm

• At 11.01 am, UT police get an alert of bomb threat at District Courts, Sec 43
• Police teams, including bomb disposal squad, rushed to scene
• Judges, court staff, lawyers, visitors evacuated, disrupting court functioning
• Complex cordoned off and road leading to it closed to traffic; search begins
• At ISBT, bomb disposal & dog squads search baggage of passengers
• Around 4.30 pm, lawyers allowed to move vehicles out of complex

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