Bomb threat email disrupts functioning at PMC headquarters

Pune: The functioning of the Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC) was disrupted on Wednesday morning following a bomb threat received via email.

According to a statement issued by the civic body, the PMC headquarters was evacuated after the mayor’s office received an email threatening a bomb attack. “All departmental work was suspended. The civic administration resumed functioning only after the search operation was completed,” said PMC commissioner Naval Kishore Ram in the statement.

According to PMC officials, the police were informed about the email around 11am, following which a squad was deployed. “Operations at the civic headquarters resumed around 1pm after the squad completed a thorough search of the premises and found no suspicious or threatening material,” said a senior PMC official.

The squad searched both the old and new PMC buildings, including the offices of the mayor and the municipal commissioner. Parking areas and vehicles stationed on the premises were also inspected.

Police officials said similar threat emails were sent to other locations, including the Council Hall and the RSS office at Motibaug. These premises were also evacuated as a precautionary measure.

The email, sent from tamiae793@gmail.com under the name Tamia Edwards, was received at 8.56am on Wednesday. Sources stated the subject line read: “Bomb Blast Pune Mayor MC Office!!”

The message listed specific targets and timings like an IED blast at the Pune mayor’s office at 1.11pm, Vidhan Bhavan at 3.11pm, Nagpur RSS headquarters and Dr Hedgewar Bhavan at 3.11pm. The letter stated the key locations would be targeted from June to Sept 30. No explosive devices were found at any of the mentioned locations so far.

Pune commissioner of police Amitesh Kumar has confirmed searches and anti-sabotage checks at three places.

“We have written to the email service providers used to send the threatening messages. Details such as IP addresses and other technical information will be obtained to aid the investigation,” said Girish Dighavkar, senior police inspector.

Similar threatening emails claiming multiple “Bomb Blasts” by a self-styled “Khalistan National Army” was also sent to Vidhan Bhavan, and the RSS Headquarters and Dr Hegdewar Bhavan in Nagpur on Wednesday. The inflammatory content referenced historical events such as “1984 Operation Bluestar” and “Operation Woodrose”, and claimed that around 20,000 Sikh youths were eliminated in such armed operations. It also accused RSS for supporting Operation Bluestar.

Authorities are treating the matter seriously under relevant provisions of law related to criminal intimidation, promoting enmity, and threats to public order. The state Anti-terrorist squad (ATS) has been put on high alert, along with other state and central intelligence agencies.

Senior police officers have appealed to citizens to stay vigilant and report any suspicious activity immediately while maintaining normal operations.

(With inputs from Soumitra Bose in Nagpur)