Sambalpur/ Angul: A wave of panic rippled through two judicial complexes in Odisha on Monday as anonymous bomb threats sent via email triggered massive search operations.
The latest emails targeted the District and Sessions Courts in Sambalpur and Angul, adding to a troubling surge of hoax threats that have plagued the state’s judiciary in recent months.
In Sambalpur, a large-scale search operation was launched immediately after authorities flagged the threatening email. Local police, led by Sambalpur SDPO Tophan Bag, quickly deployed anti-bomb disposal squads and K-9 sniffer dog units to meticulously sweep the court complex. Security personnel utilised specialised equipment, including metal detectors, Non-Linear Junction Detectors (NLJD), and optical fibre scopes, alongside rigorous vehicle checks. Main access gates were heavily barricaded, restricting entry exclusively to individuals clearing strict identification verifications.
This incident reportedly marks the fourth such scare hitting the Sambalpur court this year alone, following similar disruptions in January and March.
Simultaneously, a heavy security blanket was thrown over the Angul District and Sessions Court premises after a similar electronic threat was received by the District Judge’s official email account around 2.30 am. Upon discovering the message, District Judge Niranjan Panda immediately alerted local authorities and the High Court. Under the direct orders of Angul SP Rahul Jain, standard safety protocols were initiated, resulting in the immediate evacuation of lawyers, court staff, and visitors to safer locations. The Bomb Detection and Disposal Squad (BDDS) and senior police officials cordoned off the area to conduct an exhaustive sanitisation sweep of the building.
While thorough search operations in both Sambalpur and Angul yielded no explosives or suspicious objects, the coordinated scares completely halted judicial activities and triggered widespread anxiety.
The anonymous emails have raised significant concerns among lawyers and the legal fraternity, who have criticised the repeated failures to trace the perpetrators despite ongoing probes. These hoaxes are causing substantial disruptions, wasting valuable court time and creating panic among judges, advocates, and litigants.
Investigators are examining the digital trail, with indications that the threats may be routed through the Dark Web using tools like the TOR browser and advanced masking techniques.
