Kolkata man arrested for threatening Nitish
Preliminary investigations reveal that the man is not linked to any terror group, though in the email he claimed to be linked to al-Qaeda. A 51-year-old man was arrested from Kolkata on Monday for allegedly sending an email threatening to bomb Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar’s office in Patna.
Who sent the threatening mail to Bihar CM Nitish Kumar?
The suspect has been identified as Mohammed Zahid, who owns a shop in Kolkata’s BB Ganguly Street and hails from Bihar’s Begusarai district. Preliminary investigations reveal that the man is not linked to any terror group, though in the email he claimed to be linked to al-Qaeda. Zahid was arrested from Kolkata’s Bowbazar area and will be brought to Patna after obtaining transit remand. The police have also recovered the mobile phone used to send the threat.
Motive not clear
The motive behind Zahid’s email sent on July 16 is still not clear, police said. However, some reports claimed that he had sent threats to implicate his relatives. He will be questioned further upon reaching Patna, officials said. The FIR was registered on August 2 based on a complaint by Sanjeev Kumar, SHO of the Secretariat police station.
Will be remembered for missed opportunities
Meanwhile, political strategist-turned-activist Prashant Kishor on Sunday accused Bihar CM Nitish Kumar of “failing to deliver concrete benefits” to the state. Kishor, who has previously worked with Kumar, accused him of focusing on his party’s influence in the Union Council of Ministers and using his power to settle local disputes rather than pushing Bihar’s industrial development.
Kishor raises questions
Kishor questioned why Nitish Kumar did not advocate for the revival of 20 closed sugar mills in Bihar despite his nearly 20-year tenure. People are demanding special status for Bihar, yet Nitish Kumar has not taken any steps to restart these mills, Kishor said during a press conference.
His tenure will be remembered for missed opportunities. The remarks were made after an event organised for the ‘Jan Suraj’ campaign, which Kishor launched about two years ago and is going to become a political party on October 2.
Patna airport receives bomb threat
Meanwhile, it is worth noting that earlier in June, a similar email with a bomb threat was sent to Patna airport, which was declared fake after initial investigation. On June 18, at around 1:10 pm, the Patna airport director received a threatening email, to which the airport authorities immediately responded. Following this, security arrangements have been significantly beefed up at the Patna airport.
The Patna airport director said in a statement, “A bomb threat has been received through email at JPNI Airport Patna and 41 other airports. A meeting of the Bomb Threat Assessment Committee (BTAC) has been called at the airport.” The BTAC has found that the threat does not make much sense. Further action is being taken.
The Threat
The threat, which was received earlier this month, had caused widespread concern among the security agencies and the public. The caller had made a series of menacing statements, claiming they would detonate explosives at the Chief Minister’s office. This prompted an immediate high-level security alert, with increased vigilance and security measures implemented around key government installations in Bihar.
The Investigation
Following the threat, a dedicated task force was formed to trace the origins of the call. Utilizing advanced tracking technology and intelligence gathering, the authorities were able to narrow down the location of the suspect to Kolkata. Surveillance operations were intensified in the region, and law enforcement agencies in both states worked in close coordination to monitor potential suspects.
The Arrest
The breakthrough came when the suspect was located in a residential area in Kolkata. A tactical team moved in to apprehend the individual, ensuring minimal risk to the surrounding community. The arrest was conducted without incident, and the suspect was taken into custody for interrogation. Initial investigations suggest that the individual may have had previous encounters with law enforcement and could be part of a larger network.
Legal Proceedings
The suspect is being transferred to Bihar, where they will face charges related to terrorism and threats against public officials. The authorities are now focused on uncovering any accomplices and the motivations behind the threat. The incident has underscored the importance of inter-state cooperation in addressing security threats and maintaining public safety.
Public Reassurance
In the wake of the arrest, the Bihar government has reassured the public that all necessary measures are being taken to ensure the safety of its citizens and government officials. Enhanced security protocols remain in place, and the authorities continue to monitor the situation closely.
This incident highlights the persistent threats faced by public figures and the critical role of law enforcement in safeguarding democratic institutions and public safety.
Bomb making material found from a house
In July, bomb making material was recovered from a house in Patna. 35 live cartridges, a can of potassium nitrate, cans of trifluralin liquid, charcoal and twine were seized. In this case, the police have arrested a person named Pawan Mahato.
The police are investigating the angle of conspiracy behind bringing such a large quantity of explosives in the house. The police caught them in time and averted a major incident. It is worth noting that the Bihar Police is also taking the latest threat to the CMO seriously and all security agencies are taking this matter seriously.
Conclusion
A 51-year-old man accused of sending a threatening email to the Chief Minister’s Office of Bihar has been arrested in Kolkata. The mobile phone used to send the email has been recovered. The accused is originally from Begusarai in Bihar and currently lives in Kolkata, where he runs a paan shop.
As per the vital details available in the case, the FIR was first lodged based on the statement of SHO of Secretariat Police Station, Sanjeev Kumar and a case has been registered against unknown persons under relevant sections of the Indian Penal Code and the IT Act.
