Dharwad: Panic gripped the district court premises here on Friday after an anonymous caller claimed that bombs were planted at multiple locations inside the court complex. However, an extensive search by police and security agencies later confirmed the threat was a hoax.The bomb threat was received through a telephone call at the court’s administrative office. The caller warned that explosive devices had been placed within the premises and could detonate at any time.Acting swiftly, court officials alerted the police, who immediately launched a security operation. As a precaution, judges, advocates, court staff, litigants and visitors were evacuated from the complex.Police personnel, assisted by the dog squad, conducted a thorough search of the entire premises, inspecting every corner for suspicious objects. Security was tightened in and around the court during the operation.Meanwhile, the Kolar district court also received a similar threat on Friday. In that case, an email claimed a bomb had been activated inside the court premises and could explode at any moment, triggering alarm among judicial officials and the public.After hours of inspection, police found no explosives or suspicious materials at the Dharwad court and declared the threat a hoax.This is the third such incident involving the Dharwad court in less than a year. In Feb, the district court, along with the Dharwad bench of the Karnataka high court, received similar bomb threat emails, which were later found to be false.Police said forensic experts and cybercrime personnel have been pressed into service to trace the origin of the threat call. Efforts are under way to identify and apprehend those responsible for creating panic through the hoax threat.
