Repeated Bomb Threats Keep Ahmedabad Residents, Schools and Security Agencies on Edge
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Schools, courts, government institutions and political offices targeted in multiple incidents; investigations continue as authorities examine possible links
A series of bomb-threat emails and security scares targeting schools, courts, government institutions, political offices and other sensitive locations has kept security agencies on alert and raised concerns among residents, parents, students, school staff and visitors to public institutions.
At least four significant threat episodes linked to Ahmedabad have been reported in September. The incidents involved different targets and methods, with investigations progressing at varying stages. While searches at several locations have not resulted in the recovery of explosives, arrests have been made in two email-threat cases.
Gujarat High Court and Surat court receive threats
The first major Ahmedabad-linked incident was reported on September 5, when threatening emails were sent to the Gujarat High Court in Ahmedabad and the Sessions Court in Surat, claiming that bombs had been planted at the premises.
The Ahmedabad Cybercrime Branch registered an FIR. On September 7, Gujarat Police announced the arrest of two men in Chennai, alleging that the threats were linked to an accused in an NDPS case who wanted to disrupt court proceedings. Police said the emails had been sent using a false identity.
Schools, courts and Gujarat Assembly targeted
On September 10 and 11, another series of threatening emails reportedly targeted 10 Ahmedabad schools, three courts and the Gujarat Assembly.
The schools named in reports included Delhi Public School and New Tulip School in Bopal, Sant Kabir School in Navrangpura, SGVP School in Chharodi, Zydus School in Vejalpur, Mahatma Gandhi International School, Anand Niketan School in Satellite, Udgam School in Thaltej, Army Public School in Shahibaug and Kendriya Vidyalaya No. 1 in Dudheshwar.
The City Civil and Sessions Court in Bhadra, District and Sessions Court in Navrangpura and Gheekanta Metropolitan Court were also reportedly targeted. Police and bomb squads conducted searches, but no suspicious explosive device was found. The emails reportedly contained similar wording and references to Khalistan, BRICS and political leaders.
Aviation-related bomb scare in Ahmedabad
On September 10, an IndiGo flight from Lucknow to Dammam was diverted to Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International Airport in Ahmedabad after a tissue paper bearing the word “bomb” was found in the aircraft’s lavatory.
The aircraft, carrying 107 passengers and six crew members, landed safely and underwent security checks. No suspicious object was reported at the time. The incident followed a similar scare involving an Air India Express flight on August 31.
Cyber investigation uncovers email database
The September 10 email campaign also triggered a major cyber investigation. According to Gujarat Police, a threatening email sent to the state government’s Legislative and Parliamentary Affairs Department mentioned the Gujarat Assembly, the offices of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Home Minister Amit Shah, and countries participating in the BRICS summit.
Police subsequently arrested two men from Bihar and Jharkhand in connection with the alleged cyber network. Investigators said they recovered a database containing 5,13,847 email IDs and corresponding passwords. Police are examining the database to determine how many accounts were used to send threats.
Latest threat names Somnath Temple and BJP offices
The latest threat, reportedly received on Monday, September 21, named the Somnath Temple, BJP offices—including the party’s Ahmedabad office in Khanpur and its state headquarters at Kamalam—as well as Gujarat Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel, police personnel and the Research and Analysis Wing (RAW).
The email allegedly claimed that explosives had been planted at various locations and included references to Pakistan and Khalistan. These claims have not been independently established.
Following the threat, Ahmedabad Police, fire personnel and bomb-detection teams were deployed at the BJP office in Khanpur as a precaution. Authorities are examining the source and credibility of the email and investigating whether it is connected to earlier threats.
Investigations at different stages
The recent incidents have resulted in different investigative outcomes. In the September 5 court-threat case, police announced two arrests and identified an alleged motive. In the September 10 email investigation, two additional arrests led to the recovery of a large database of email credentials, although investigators are still examining its possible use in other cases.
With the latest email naming religious, political and government targets, authorities are investigating whether it represents an isolated hoax or is connected to the network already under investigation. Publicly reported searches in the recent Ahmedabad cases have not resulted in the recovery of explosives.
