Mumbai on High Alert After Bomb Threat During Ganesh Visarjan
Mumbai, September 5 — The Mumbai police are currently on high alert after receiving a serious bomb threat allegedly from an unknown terror group called Lashkar-e-Jihadi. The threat came just as Ganesh Chaturthi festivities were ending, and thousands of people were taking part in the Ganpati visarjan processions across the city.
The caller claimed that 14 terrorists had sneaked into India and that about 400 kg of RDX explosives had been planted in 34 different vehicles around Mumbai. The threat warned that these bombs could kill up to 1 crore (10 million) people and cause massive destruction.
In response, Mumbai police teams stepped up security measures to keep everyone safe. Authorities said they checked all key locations, including parking lots and basements, to find any suspicious devices. The police also reassured the public that they are capable of handling any threat and are doing everything possible to protect the city.
It’s important to note that Lashkar-e-Jihadi is an unknown group, making it likely that the call was a hoax. Still, police are taking no chances, especially since there have been similar threats from Pakistan and Bangladesh-based groups to target India.
Over the past year, there has been a noticeable increase in false alarm calls across India. For example, last Monday, a man was arrested in Thane after making a hoax bomb threat about a railway station. Earlier in August, an email threatening a bomb at the ISKCON temple in Girgaon turned out to be a fake, and in July, police received a threat call about a possible blast at Mumbai’s Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport — again, a false alarm.
While these threats have mostly been hoaxes, they still cause panic and put a strain on security agencies. Many of these fake calls are aimed at creating chaos and spreading fear, often to hurt industries like aviation. Sometimes, prank callers hide their identity using VPNs, making it very hard for investigators to track them down. Some calls are also believed to be part of larger psychological warfare efforts.
Fake threats have also targeted schools, malls, colleges, and hospitals, adding to the pressure on security forces. In the case of threats to airlines, it has led to emergency landings, evacuation of passengers, and costly aircraft searches. For instance, diverting flights and grounding aircraft in such situations can cost airlines millions of rupees, with expenses running into Rs 30 million or more.
Mumbai police often receive threatening calls from unknown numbers. Many times, the callers are reported to be under the influence of alcohol or facing mental health issues. Nonetheless, authorities follow strict protocols — evacuating locations and thoroughly searching them with bomb disposal squads — whenever a threat is received, especially if a specific place is named.
In this recent case during the Ganesh visarjan, no particular location was mentioned, which makes the police’s job much tougher. Managing such threats without concrete information increases the strain on law enforcement and security agencies.
Authorities continue to monitor the situation closely, urging people to stay calm and report any suspicious activity. Though most threats turn out to be hoaxes, the police and security agencies must take every call seriously to ensure everyone’s safety during these important festivals.
— Vicky/SKP
