Amid bomb threats, Bengal Govt vows foolproof security for judges

Chief Secretary Nandini Chakraborty said the threats to the courts across the state, including in Bidhannagar, Berhampore, and Kolkata, proved to be hoaxes upon investigation.

“On behalf of the Government, we are assuring all judges and litigants that the State Government is looking into the matter with the highest priority for their safety,” she said in a statement. “We are looking into who sent this mail. Since there is a trail to the mails, our cybercrime branch and detective department are looking into it. We will definitely find out the purpose and the malicious intent behind these mails sent to multiple locations at the same time. We will identify and take necessary legal actions against those involved. We will also let you know about it.”

“As you know, our Cyber Crime Wing in West Bengal and Kolkata is very active. Since cybercrimes have increased lately, our senior officers are monitoring this round the clock,” Chakraborty added.

Supratim Sarkar, Commissioner of Police, Kolkata, said the emails followed a pattern. “An email was received at the city court and the Bankshall Court about a bomb threat. Immediately, our detective department’s Bomb Detection and Disposal Squad (BDDS) went there…,” Sarkar said. “After a complete search, nothing suspicious was found… There is no cause for panic… If anyone or any group has attempted to spread unnecessary panic, we will investigate and take strict legal action against them.”

Investigators are working to trace the IP addresses used to send the emails. Initial findings suggest the messages originated from encrypted servers, a tactic chosen to hide the senders’ identities and complicate the digital paper trail.

Later in the day, Kolkata Police registered a case in connection with the incident. “Based on the complaint of Ld Registrar, City Civil Court, Calcutta regarding the bomb attack email, the Hare Street Police Station has recorded the case. The STF and Cyber PS have started an investigation into the matter,” said a senior Kolkata Police Official.

Reacting to the development, Leader of Opposition in Bengal Assembly Suvendu Adhikari said, “To terrorise all the court premises… the hand of Bangladeshi militants could be behind this. A proper probe is required. It is not new that Bengal is a hub of militants.”

250 judicial officers for SIR work

The timing of these threats is being closely scrutinised, as they follow a Supreme Court directive for judicial officers to oversee the adjudication of over 50 lakh discrepancies in voter lists——a process that has become a major political point of contention in the state.

A breakdown of trust between the state government and the Election Commission prompted the apex court’s intervention.

Approximately 250 active and retired judicial officers have thus been appointed to oversee the SIR of electoral rolls.

DGP Piyush Pandey has been instructed to provide foolproof security to the judicial personnel involved in the SIR process. This follows concerns voiced by the Supreme Court regarding reports of violence and intimidation directed at SIR officials.