A security alert was triggered across the state on Thursday after several courts in Odisha, including the High Court, received an anonymous e-mail threatening to “damage” court premises.
Director General of Police (DGP) Yogesh Bahadur Khurania said that security has been enhanced at all concerned sensitive locations.
The DGP further informed that the police have taken cognisance and are “closely monitoring the situation.”
“An anonymous e-mail containing a threat to damage court premises has been received at several courts. The police have taken cognisance of the matter and initiated a thorough investigation. As a precautionary measure, police checks and enhanced security arrangements have been implemented at all relevant locations. The situation is under close monitoring,” he stated.
The threat, received via email, prompted an immediate suspension of proceedings as police and bomb disposal squads evacuated staff, advocates, and litigants from the High Court and various district court complexes.
The threat put the courts on alert, with the advocates raising safety concerns.
The DGP further advised the public not to panic and urged them to cooperate.
“The public is advised not to panic and to cooperate with the police in maintaining security and assisting the investigation,” the DGP advised.
Prafulla Kumar Sahoo, a Senior Advocate at the Odisha High Court, highlighted a critical vulnerability: traffic congestion. “If there is a real emergency, it would be nearly impossible to empty the premises quickly due to the sheer number of vehicles parked here. The passage is extremely narrow, and traffic control is virtually non-existent,” Sahoo told ANI.
Meanwhile, Shishir Kumar, Joint Secretary, District Bar Association, expressed relief over the safety despite the panic state, reiterating the need for effective traffic management.
“I appreciate and support this step to inspect the premises and conduct a thorough investigation for the safety and security of the advocates in the court. However, if the traffic had been managed better, the inspection could have caused fewer issues for the passage of people and vehicles,” Kumar said.
The investigation into the threat is ongoing.
Expressing concern over the bomb threat, BJD Chief Naveen Patnaik, in a post from his X handle, wrote, “I am deeply concerned to learn that bomb threat calls have been received by email at the district courts of Sambalpur, Cuttack, and Deogarh. The safety of our judicial institutions, including judges, lawyers, litigants, court staff, and the general public, is of utmost priority. I urge the concerned authorities to conduct a swift, thorough, and appropriate investigation into the received threats. Immediately identify from where the threats originated and who is involved in this, and bring the conclusion to the public domain. In such a situation, I call upon the general public to remain calm, stay away from spreading rumors, and extend full cooperation to the security agencies.”
