Security agencies were placed on high alert after the Bihar Legislative Assembly received a threatening email warning of a bomb attack on the Assembly premises ahead of the upcoming Rajya Sabha elections in India, reported news agency IANS.
Officials said the email, received on Friday, claimed that there was a plan to blow up the Assembly complex, prompting authorities to initiate immediate security checks, reported IANS.
Speaker orders urgent security review
Taking swift cognisance of the threat, Assembly Speaker Prem Kumar convened an emergency meeting with senior officials from the Assembly Secretariat.
During the meeting, the Speaker directed Officer-in-Charge (Secretary) Khyati Singh to inform the state’s top administrative and police authorities about the situation, reported IANS.
He instructed officials to alert the Chief Secretary and the Director General of Police and ensure an immediate security assessment of the Assembly complex.
Police launch investigation into threatening email
Confirming the development, Central Superintendent of Police Diksha said law enforcement agencies had begun taking action following the threat.
“The threatening email was received on Friday, and we are taking immediate measures regarding it,” she said, reported IANS.
Cybersecurity teams have also been tasked with tracing the origin of the email in an attempt to identify the person responsible for sending the threat.
Security tightened at Assembly complex
Following the warning, security has been significantly strengthened in and around the Assembly premises.
Additional police personnel have been deployed at all entry points, and security personnel are conducting thorough checks of every vehicle entering the complex, reported IANS.
Authorities have also deployed a bomb detection squad and a dog squad to conduct a detailed search of the premises to rule out any potential security threat.
Similar threats reported earlier in Bihar
Officials noted that this is not the first time government institutions in Bihar have received such threatening emails.
In previous incidents, the Patna Civil Court and district courts in cities including Muzaffarpur, Darbhanga, Samastipur, Purnea and Bhagalpur had received similar emails threatening bomb attacks.
Investigations later revealed that those threats were hoaxes, but they caused significant concern among judicial officers, lawyers and the public.
Authorities remain cautious ahead of Rajya Sabha voting
Officials said the timing of the latest threat is particularly concerning as voting for the Rajya Sabha election is scheduled to take place on March 16.
Authorities are maintaining heightened security and closely monitoring the situation to ensure the safety of the Assembly complex and its members in the lead-up to the election.
(With inputs from IANS)