Mumbai, October 8: Mumbai Police have been grappling with a recent surge in bomb hoax calls linked to Pakistan, keeping them on high alert in a city that has already faced the horrors of terrorism in the past. The latest incident occurred late on Friday, October 6, when an intoxicated man from Goregaon made a distressing call to the police control room, claiming to be a Pakistani and warning of imminent bombings in the city. The caller, identified as Nagendra Shukla, a 30-year-old labourer, made audacious claims that two dozen men, had infiltrated India along with the Pakistani national Seema Haider and were planning to unleash explosions within hours.

This alarming call triggered a swift response from the police force. According to the Times of India report, multiple calls from the same individual persisted until Shukla was eventually tracked down and apprehended on Saturday, October 7. It was revealed that his alarming statements were nothing more than a prank, putting a tremendous strain on police resources and wasting precious man-hours. Bomb Blast in Mumbai: Police Receives Hoax Call About Bomb Threat in Kamathipura, Caller Arrested.

Such hoax calls pose serious challenges for security agencies, as they must treat each threat seriously due to the sensitive nature of the situation. The incident is not isolated, as earlier this year, a series of messages were sent to the traffic police WhatsApp helpline, threatening a terror attack similar to the 26/11 Mumbai attacks if Seema Haider was not sent back to Pakistan. Investigations revealed that the messages were sent from the Middle East. Bomb Threat Call: Mumbai Police Receives Hoax Threat Call From Unidentified Caller To Blow Up Domestic, International Airports.

Another call on July 23 reported two Pakistanis allegedly transporting RDX on a tanker headed to Goa, which turned out to be a false alarm. The caller, Nilesh Pandey, admitted to making the call while under the influence of alcohol following a road accident. The Mumbai Police emphasize the importance of reporting any suspicious activity but also urge citizens to use their emergency services responsibly, as such hoax calls divert resources away from genuine emergencies and can have serious consequences for public safety.

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Oct 08, 2023 10:50 AM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).