Red Fort security beefed up after email threat of bomb blasts on August 15
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New Delhi: Security agencies in Delhi sprang into action on Monday after the Delhi Mayor’s office received an email threatening multiple bomb blasts at the Red Fort on August 15, ahead of the Independence Day celebrations.
As soon as the Mayor’s office received the bomb threat, it alerted the Delhi Police and other security agencies.
Following the alert, police personnel, bomb disposal squads and other security teams rushed to the Red Fort and carried out an extensive sanitisation and inspection of the premises, an official said.
Delhi Police sources said security around the area was subsequently strengthened and an investigation was launched into the threat.
Investigators are also trying to trace the identity of the sender and determine the source of the email, sources said.
A similar bomb threat targeting the Red Fort had triggered a major security response on July 11, prompting police and security agencies to conduct a comprehensive combing operation at the monument before declaring the threat a hoax.
According to Delhi Police, last month’s threat originated from a phone call made to the Mumbai Police Control Room, during which the caller allegedly claimed that the Red Fort would be blown up. Mumbai Police immediately relayed the information to the Delhi Police Control Room, which alerted the North District Police to initiate security measures.
After thoroughly checking the area, police officials found no suspicious object or explosive material and confirmed that the threat was false.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi is scheduled to address the nation from the ramparts of the Red Fort on August 15 as the country celebrates its 80th Independence Day.
The government has also invited citizens to share their ideas, inputs and policy suggestions for Prime Minister Modi’s upcoming Independence Day address. The window for submitting public ideas through the MyGov Portal Invitation is open until August 12.
With IANS inputs