Hoax bomb email sparks mass evacuation at Pathanamthitta collectorate

Pathanamthitta: A hoax bomb threat triggered the evacuation of the Pathanamthitta district collectorate in Kerala on Friday, police said. The email, sent from an unidentified ID by someone claiming to be “Ramesh”, warned that RDX had been planted at the collectorate, at Wayanad, and at the residence of a person named Vijay, and would detonate at 3 pm.

Employees were promptly evacuated as a precaution while the District Police Chief oversaw a comprehensive search operation. A bomb detection and disposal squad, along with a police dog unit, confirmed the threat was false.

Police have launched an investigation and will register a case related to the hoax. Officials noted that hoax threats targeting public places, including the Kerala Chief Minister’s residence, have become increasingly frequent. Tracing perpetrators is challenging due to the use of fake email IDs, often created via dark web sources.

The email arrived at the official address of the Pathanamthitta District Collectorate around 11.30 am on Friday. It was immediately forwarded to the District Police Chief, who coordinated the evacuation and search.

Authorities conducted a thorough sweep of the collectorate premises and confirmed no explosives were present. The identity of the sender remains unknown, and the mention of “Vijay” could not be verified.

Police emphasised that such hoax threats have become more common, complicating public safety measures. The investigation aims to trace the source of the email and prevent future incidents, while ensuring that public offices and personnel are not put at risk by similar false alarms.