Three top Bengaluru colleges receive hoax bomb-threat emails, case lodged

BMS College, MS Ramaiah College, and BIT College—have been placed on high alert.

Three top colleges in Bengaluru—BMS College, MS Ramaiah College, and BIT College—have been placed on high alert following a bomb threat received on Friday.

MS Ramaiah College campus.(msrit.edu)

According to police, the Bangalore Institute of Technology and BMS College of Engineering, both in Basavanagudi and MS Ramaiah Institute of Technology in Sadashivanagar received the bomb threat via email at about 1 pm.

The police and bomb disposal teams were immediately deployed to the colleges upon receiving the threats, authorities told Hindustan Times. Quick action was taken to implement safety measures, leading to the evacuation of students and staff from the premises. As news spread, concerned parents gathered outside the colleges to seek information about their children's safety. Bomb squads conducted thorough searches of the campuses, while security was increased in the surrounding areas to protect everyone present.

"We have registered a case under BNS section 351 (criminal intimidation) and launched an investigation. We rushed to the scene with bomb disposal, sniffer dog, and forensic teams, but this turned out to be another hoax. Our cyber experts are now working to verify the origin of the emails," Hanumanthanagar Police Inspector Vinod Bhat told HT.

“We received information at 1 p.m. that three colleges had been sent bomb threat emails, claiming a bomb had been planted on a desk. A case has been registered at Hanumantanagar Police Station, and investigations are ongoing. The emails to all three colleges appear to have been sent from the same address, and we are tracing its source,” DCP Lokesh Jagalasar, who heads the South Division, said.

Despite a series of similar incidents in recent months, no arrests have been made related to the bomb threat emails in Bengaluru.

Bomb threat at Taj West End Hotel

On Saturday, the Taj West End Hotel in Bengaluru too received a bomb threat email, prompting an immediate response from local authorities. The email was sent by unknown individuals, and prompted the police and the local bomb squad to quickly arrive at the hotel to conduct a thorough investigation, as confirmed by Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCP) for Central Bengaluru, Shekhar HT.

“Taj West End Hotel in Bengaluru received a bomb threat reportedly through an email from unknown miscreants. The hotel, known for hosting prominent politicians and cricketers, received the threat earlier today. Local police and the bomb squad have rushed to the scene and are currently conducting a thorough investigation. Further details awaited,” DCP Shekar HT said.

The Taj West End is a well-known establishment that frequently hosts high-profile guests, including politicians and cricketers.