Bomb threat sends a chill

The city police was on high alert on Monday after receiving a message saying Pune would witness bomb blasts at 40-odd places.

There will be blasts at 40 places, said the fax that sent police into a tizzy; threat turns out to be a hoax

The city police was on high alert on Monday after receiving a message saying Pune would witness bomb blasts at 40-odd places. Even the time was mentioned, as roughly 2.30 pm.

The police went into an overdrive and secured all vital installations. The city police took the help of the bomb detection and disposal squad. The fax was traced to a communication centre in Ganesh Peth.

The city police have identified the owner of the shop from where the fax was sent and were questioning him. There was tight security at the Pune railway station, International Convention Centre as also scores of hotels and commercial establishments. 8220;To Pune police or to whomsoever it may concern. It is to inform you that 40 blasts will be happening in the city at around 2.30 pm. These blasts would be near banks, Pune station and colleges. Save as many people as you can. Good luck to Pune and good bye,8221; was what the message said, according to Joint Commissioner of Police Rajendra Sonavane.

8220;People should not panic. They should not believe in rumor. We are beefing up security in the city and even cancelling the holidays of our staff,8221; he said.

Deputy Commissioner of Police Raghunath Khaire said the police were currently questioning Balasaheb Saswadekar, the owner of the shop from where the fax was sent. 8220;With his help we are even a making a sketch of the accused. He was 5.5-foot-tall, had a wheatish complexion and was wearing a black half-sleeve shirt,8221; he said.

Sonavane said police had given instructions to all police stations in the city to check hotels, lodges, bus-stands and railway stations.

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8220;Naka bandi is on at places in the city. We have also taken a drive to sensitise educational institutions on the security threat.8221;

8220;I held a meeting with around 250 managers from around 2,200 branches of banks in the city at the SBI Building this evening to brief them and tell them how to tackle any untoward situation,8221; he added.

Rush of adrenaline amid chaos
The bomb threat sent to Pune Police forced many city colleges to suspend classes.

Chaos prevailed for some time as news of the message spread and massive traffic jams were seen on FC Road and adjoining lanes owing to the sudden rush of students onto the road. Students waited on the roadside during the search and moved on only after the threat proved to be a hoax. Piyali Vasudevan, a student said, 8220;We were sure it would be a hoax. This is the second time I am witnessing a hoax bomb scare. Still, each time tension prevails.8221; Chaotic scenes were also witnessed at SP College on Tilak Road when police vans rushed into the busy arterial road.