Did the Gujarat High Court Really Receive a Bomb Threat?

Synopsis
Key Takeaways
- Gujarat High Court faced a bomb threat on June 24.
- A comprehensive security response was initiated.
- No explosives were found during searches.
- The incident follows a similar threat received earlier at a school.
- Authorities are investigating possible links to recent arrests.
Ahmedabad, June 24 (NationPress) The Gujarat High Court was the target of a bomb threat sent via email early on Tuesday morning. In response, a bomb squad along with a police team initiated a comprehensive search operation throughout the High Court complex. Although no suspicious items were located, the facility is now under enhanced security measures.
At precisely 7:55 A.M. on Tuesday, a disturbing email, sent from an account identified as renee_joshilda@hotmail.com, asserted that three RDX-based IEDs were placed within the court complex and indicated that a VIP was at risk.
The message also claimed that similar explosives had been positioned in courthouses throughout the state. Upon receiving the threat, officials at both the CPC and the Registrar General’s office activated security protocols without delay.
Despite the gravity of the situation, the Chief Justice of the Gujarat High Court opted to remain on-site, contrasting with a prior incident on June 9.
Orders were issued for extensive inspections at all district courts within the state.
The timing of this email has raised suspicions of a connection to Rene Josilda, who was apprehended just a day earlier in Chennai by Ahmedabad's Cyber Crime Branch.
Josilda is suspected of having sent threatening communications to educational institutions, healthcare facilities, and stadiums across 11 states, including Gujarat.
While there has been no official confirmation, authorities are contemplating that today’s email may also be her work or part of a broader coordinated effort.
This incident follows a similar threat received by Navrachana School in Vadodara just a day prior, which also turned out to be a hoax after an exhaustive four-hour search.
The school was evacuated swiftly, and a bomb squad, along with a dog unit and police, conducted a meticulous search. No explosives were discovered, but concern spread among students and parents.
These occurrences are not isolated. The Gujarat High Court had previously received a bomb threat on June 9. Although nothing was found, the situation was treated with utmost seriousness, leading to an extensive investigation.
Today’s repeated threat—merely two weeks later—denotes a disturbing trend aimed at unsettling public institutions and instilling fear in the populace, while diverting security resources for futile pursuits.
While no actual explosives have been identified in any of the recent incidents, authorities are not dismissing the possibility of organized cyber-terrorism or copycat acts that exploit the existing panic.