Hoax bomb threats sent to Agra, Kanpur airports amid Presidential visit

Airports in Agra and Kanpur received threatening emails, prompting an increase in security arrangements, officials explained on Monday. After a thorough search operation, nothing suspicious was found.

The threats, though empty, come amid President Droupadi Murmu's visit to Bareily and Gorakhpur in UP from June 30 to July 1, for various academic ceremonies, including a convocation at AIIMS Gorakhpur.

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While the Kanpur airport received an email specifying that heavy explosives were planted on its premises, the complaint by the Agra airport security did not specify any details about the threat.

Over the past few months, airports in various parts of the country received bomb threats—at Gorakhpur just yesterday, and about two months ago, at Thiruvananthapuram and Mumbai.

In Agra, Deputy Commissioner of Police (City) Sonam Kumar said that the airport security had filed a complaint regarding the threatening email on Sunday, following which a case was registered at the Shahganj police station, as per a PTI report.

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"Similar emails have been received at other locations as well, and we are in contact with officials there. A thorough investigation is underway. The airport premises has been checked, and nothing suspicious found," the DCP added.

An FIR has been registered under BNS Section 351(4) (criminal intimidation by an anonymous communication) and Section 66F of the IT Act. Police forces are currently trying to trace the sender of the emails, and assess its credibility, officials explained.

The Kanpur airport had also received a more specific email about explosives being planted, prompting police, Local Intelligence Unit (LIU) and airport authorities to carry out searches with the help of Bomb Disposal Squads, Quick Response Teams (QRTs) and sniffer dog units.

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We carried proper searching and combed the entire airport premises, and found the threat to be a hoax, explained Assistant Commissioner of Police (Chakeri) Abhishek Pandey, as per the PTI report. A preliminary probe suggests that it was a case of mischief to create panic, he added.

The Kanpur airport authorities have been asked to submit a written complaint so that an FIR can be registered, Pandey said.

India