The bomb threat at Delhi’s iconic Red Fort has been the focus of a major security operation following a major security operation on Saturday, where some parts of the Red Fort were closed and police cordoned off parts of the landmark and searched the place for bombs.
After hours of investigation, officials confirmed that the threat was a hoax and no explosives or suspicious materials were found on the premises.
The threat came in a phone call, Delhi Police said, which immediately put security agencies on high alert.
The information was immediately circulated among the Bomb Disposal Squad (BDS), Dog Squad, Delhi Fire Services, and local police units. Teams rushed to the UNESCO World Heritage Site and began a systematic search of the whole complex.
Some visitors were also kept from entering the Red Fort while security personnel conducted anti-sabotage checks. Security forces also increased monitoring around nearby roads and key entry and exit points to keep public safety in check during the operation.
Every part of the monument public areas, administrative buildings, and nearby buildings was thoroughly examined, the officials said. Sniffer dogs and bomb detection equipment were sent out to check for any explosives.
Security agencies declared the facility safe following a thorough search that lasted for a few hours. Police confirmed that the bomb threat was fake and that normal operations at the Red Fort resumed immediately afterward.
A senior police official said that even if the call was a hoax, every bomb threat should be taken very seriously because there is always the risk to public safety. Security agencies have standard practices in place for such cases so that no threat is allowed to go unaddressed.
The police are investigating who made the false bomb threat, and technical surveillance is being used to trace the origin of the phone call, the police said. Legal action against the culprits is inevitable as making false bomb threats is a punishable offence under Indian law.
The Red Fort is still one of India’s most historic landmarks and is a very high-security site. Apart from receiving thousands of domestic and international tourists every day, it is also the site of the Prime Minister’s Independence Day address on August 15 each year.
Hence, hoax bomb threats can be so serious that they disrupt public life in general, draw emergency resources, and cause unnecessary panic among visitors and residents, security experts say.
Law enforcement officers also have to deal with the additional pressure of having to put in place all the necessary personnel and equipment to check that every threat is verified, regardless of its credibility.
The public should not spread rumours or unverified information about security incidents, police said. Citizens also have to cooperate with police in emergency management and report suspicious activity and unattended objects in public.
The hoax call is still being investigated, and officials have assured the public that there are robust security measures in place at the Red Fort to protect the tourists and to safeguard one of India’s most cherished heritage sites.
