Kolkata, Feb 24 (NationPress) An alarming bomb threat was directed at seven courts across West Bengal, including the prestigious Calcutta High Court, via email, igniting widespread concern among judges and legal professionals on Tuesday, as reported by police.

In response to the threat, the state government promptly convened a high-level meeting at the State Secretariat.

West Bengal Chief Secretary Nandini Chakraborty addressed the media, stating: "The security of the courts falls under the purview of the state administration. There is no reason for undue alarm."

She urged citizens to dismiss any rumors circulating about the threat.

Meanwhile, the West Bengal Cyber Crime Branch has initiated an investigation to identify the source of the threatening email.

Chakraborty reassured the judiciary, asserting, "Judges will receive comprehensive protection. We will ensure they can perform their duties related to Special Intensive Revision (SIR) without interruptions."

She further noted, "Unfounded rumors have circulated claiming that explosives have been planted in various courts across the state, including Asansol and Durgapur. The government is closely monitoring this situation, and efforts are underway to trace the email's origin."

Chakraborty provided assurances to the public, emphasizing there is no need for unnecessary anxiety regarding these unfounded claims.

West Bengal Director General of Police (DGP) Piyush Pandey, who was present at the press briefing, affirmed, "We are entirely prepared to manage such incidents."

Kolkata Police Commissioner Supratim Sarkar also participated in the conference, stating that the police's Cyber Cell is actively investigating the source of the emails, adding: "We are treating this matter with utmost seriousness. Initial findings indicate that these emails are completely fictitious, with a similar pattern observed in all instances."

He assured that the district judges would continue their functions as usual, and the state government would take responsibility for their safety.

The administration is fully committed to that, he reiterated.

At approximately 11:30 a.m. on Tuesday, an email was sent to Asansol District Judge Debaprasad Nath, claiming that a bomb located within the court premises and the judge's chamber would be detonated by 1 p.m. that day.

The email, written in Bengali, included several serious and troubling demands.

It has been confirmed that not only Asansol but also the Calcutta High Court, Alipore Court, Durgapur Court, Berhampur Court, Suri Court, Hooghly District Court, and Rampurhat Court received similar threatening emails.

Upon learning of the bomb threat, chaos erupted within the court premises.

All judicial proceedings were immediately halted for safety reasons.

Following the receipt of the threatening email, all court premises were ordered to be evacuated without delay.

In Asansol, Sandeep Karra, the Deputy Commissioner of Police of Asansol-Durgapur Police Commissionerate, along with a substantial police presence, arrived on-site after receiving the alert.

The entire court area was cordoned off, and public entry was strictly prohibited. The bomb squad and dog squad were deployed, and a thorough search commenced.

Starting from the judge's chamber, security personnel searched the courtroom and surrounding areas.

However, after an extensive search, no suspicious objects or explosives were discovered in any of the court premises.

According to police reports, the situation is currently under control.

The state administration was alarmed by the prospect of a bomb threat in such a significant location as a court.

An emergency meeting was held at the State Secretariat on Tuesday to assess the circumstances.

Given that the content of all the threatening emails appears nearly identical, the police's initial assumption is that this was a calculated attempt to instill panic.

Currently, with the rise in cybercrime, investigators are examining this incident from that angle as well.

Officials from the Cyber Cell are actively working to determine the IP address from which these emails originated and to uncover their technical source.

For the time being, police security has been heightened at every court location, with vigilant surveillance being conducted for any suspicious activities.