Serial bomb hoax accused arrested from West Bengal

Ahmedabad: Bringing relief to anxious parents, students and school authorities, the city crime branch arrested the prime accused behind a series of hoax bomb threat emails sent to schools in Ahmedabad and Gandhinagar over the past few months.The accused, identified as Sourav Biswas, 40, was apprehended from West Bengal in a joint operation by the city crime branch and the Cybercrime branch.
Biswas was brought to Ahmedabad and is currently on remand until March 14. Investigators are questioning him to ascertain the motive, possible accomplices and the technical methods allegedly used to send mass emails and mask his identity.The arrest came after repeated bomb threat emails triggered panic across several educational institutions in both cities. Schools were forced to evacuate classrooms, suspend lectures and conduct emergency checks with the help of bomb disposal squads and local police. Teachers scrambled to ensure students' safety while worried parents rushed to campuses amid chaotic scenes.The most recent threat was received last month, just ahead of the crucial board examinations, heightening anxiety among Class 10 and 12 students. Though every threat turned out to be a hoax after thorough searches, the repeated incidents severely disrupted academic schedules and caused widespread fear. Every time, the school was vacated for a thorough security check, which disrupted students' classes and instilled panic among students, teachers and parents.Following the last email, the city police and the state govt formed dedicated teams to trace the sender. The breakthrough came when the crime branch, with technical assistance from cyber experts, tracked digital footprints leading to West Bengal. Get the latest lifestyle updates on Times of India, along with Holi wishes, messages and quotes !