A day earlier, an unknown person threatened to blow up India’s financial capital, Mumbai, with human bombs using 400 kg RDX. The threat led to a thorough search and investigation as the Mumbai Police Crime Branch arrested Ashwinikumar Sureshkumar Supra from Noida as the major culprit. The person is expected to be presented in front of the court on 6th September, and the police responded that the messages were sent with the intent to create mayhem and were a hoax.
Talking to the Hindu, the senior police officer said that during the event of Ganesh Chaturthi, the police are always on alert and every threat is taken seriously as it can be a major security risk. He also informed that the culprit had sent messages from different numbers and was later traced in Noida with the help of Gautam Buddha Nagar police. The senior officer also reported that the phone of the culprit has been seized. The Mumbai police have urged the public not to panic at such rumours.
The threat was received on Thursday afternoon on the WhatsApp number of the Mumbai police, claiming that the city would blow up with 400 kg of RDX. Reports say that the user also used foul language against the police officials. As soon as the messages were received, investigations began by the crime branch of Mumbai and the Worli police.
The police have also amped up security on Saturday due to Ganesh Visarjan.
On Saturday, over 6,500 Ganpatis from various community mandals and over 1.5 lakh Ganpatis from households were estimated for Visarjan. The security measures taken by the police included CCTV cameras, barricading of the ponds and natural immersion areas, along with the deployment of drones, and the use of Artificial intelligence to increase safety throughout the city during the major annual festival. Across the city, 1,000 CCTV cameras have been installed, and police personnel, including women police officers, have been deployed.
The hoax bomb threat on Ganesh Chaturthi had led to commotion and panic, but the Mumbai police acted immediately, bringing comfort to the people who had finally completed the Ganesh Visarjan with peace.
