Pranksters Escalate Threats, Gujarat Legislative Assembly Latest Target in Hoax Bomb Scare Wave

Gandhinagar | Gujarat — In a worrying escalation of hoax threats across Gujarat, pranksters on Tuesday targeted the state’s most crucial democratic institution — the Gujarat Legislative Assembly — sending shockwaves through the political and administrative machinery. The bomb threat email forced an immediate evacuation, high-level security response, and a temporary halt to proceedings, underscoring a growing pattern after similar threats to schools, post offices, and passport offices.

The threat email, received on the morning of March 18, triggered a full-scale emergency response. Police teams, bomb disposal squads, and sniffer dog units rushed to the Assembly in Gandhinagar. Ministers, MLAs, and staff were swiftly evacuated as authorities launched an intensive search operation across the premises.

“No suspicious object was found, and the Assembly resumed functioning as per protocol,” officials confirmed after the sweeping checks. However, the proceedings began an hour late at 10 am instead of the scheduled 9 am.

The incident came alongside similar threats sent to multiple schools in Ahmedabad, creating panic among students and parents on the last day of board examinations. At institutions like Zydus School in Vejalpur and Calorex Future School in Ghatlodia, exams were delayed and students were kept outside campuses until security clearance was given.

Authorities revealed that the threatening emails, reportedly written in Punjabi, carried references to extremist ideologies and warned of coordinated attacks on schools, the Assembly, and even LPG tankers in Kutch. The alarming content prompted heightened vigilance across sensitive locations.

State Home Minister Harsh Sanghvi sought to reassure the public, stating, “Gujarat Police and the people of Gujarat are not afraid of such emails. Every threat is taken seriously and investigated thoroughly.” He added that similar emails had been received in multiple cities and that past investigations had traced links to SIM card misuse and even international connections.

Senior officials, including Director General of Police Dr. K.L.N. Rao and Gandhinagar SP Ravi Teja Vasamshetty, personally monitored the situation at the Assembly complex. A high-level review meeting was also conducted to assess the threat and strengthen response mechanisms.

Despite the disruption, officials emphasized that the Budget Session of the Assembly — which began on February 16 and will continue till March 25 — remains on track. “The Assembly is functioning normally. Security checks are being conducted as per protocol,” a senior अधिकारी said.

The latest incident highlights a disturbing trend: pranksters systematically targeting critical public institutions to spread fear and disrupt normal life. What began with threats to schools has now reached the corridors of power, raising serious concerns about cybersecurity, intelligence tracking, and public safety.