BMC officials receive emails warning of explosions at Mumbai Mayor’s office, Chief Minister’s Office and BSE building

Mumbai: Senior BMC officials on Wednesday morning received threat emails warning of explosions at the mayor’s office at 1.11pm, besides the Chief Minister’s Office, BSE building and RSS shakhas at specified timings.

The emails, which were sent from the ID loretta1963drake@gmail.com, mentioned the Khalistan National Army, names of a few individuals, and included threatening content targeting various organisations.

The civic disaster management team swung into action and alerted various control rooms, including police and Mantralaya, besides Azad Maidan police station about the threat emails. While the BMC tightened security at its headquarters, police and the Bomb Detection and Disposal Squads conducted extensive sweeps on the premises, including the Mayor’s office, but found nothing.

While additional security personnel were deployed and security was tightened at the entry gates to the civic headquarters, BMC officials said the headquarters functioned normally through the day.

Later in the day, mayor Ritu Tawde said that public service would continue without fear of threats and that police and the civic administration would take appropriate action. She said the disaster management cell and police informed her about the threat mails, but to ensure that public works and scheduled meetings were not delayed, she remained present at the BMC headquarters.

BJP leader of the House Ganesh Khankar demanded that the ‘Digi Pravesh’ entry system implemented at Mantralaya be implemented at BMC headquarters too. Khankar said that thousands of citizens, dignitaries, corporators, and public representatives come to BMC headquarters daily and care should be taken regarding entry.

Azad Maidan police have registered a non cognisable offence against the unidentified email sender. “The accused used VPN for sending the email, and the IP address shows its origin point in a foreign country,” said an officer. “Azad Maidan police, Mumbai crime branch police and Maharashtra Anti-Terrorism Squad personnel are investigating the matter.”