Chennai Police have received a staggering 342 bomb threat calls since April 2025, prompting the state government to order an in-depth investigation by the Anti-Terrorism Squad (ATS) into what officials suspect could be a coordinated campaign of hoax threats and misinformation.
The large number of false alarms has raised serious concerns over public safety management, police resource diversion, and the psychological impact on institutions and residents across the Tamil Nadu capital.
Pattern of Repeated Threats
According to police records, the threats were made via emails, phone calls, and anonymous social media messages, targeting schools, malls, government offices, railway stations, hospitals, and airports.
Most of these warnings turned out to be false, but each triggered emergency evacuations, bomb squad deployments, and traffic disruptions.
Senior officials from the Chennai City Police stated that nearly 90% of the threats originated from untraceable or spoofed digital sources, indicating the involvement of organized cyber elements or foreign proxy servers.
“We have received 342 threats since April — all of which required verification and public safety response. The Anti-Terrorism Squad is now reviewing digital footprints to identify repeat patterns and potential origin points,”
said a senior police officer from the Commissionerate of Greater Chennai Police.
Anti-Terrorism Squad Steps In
Following a directive from the Tamil Nadu Home Department, the Anti-Terrorism Squad (ATS) will lead the investigation with support from the Cyber Crime Wing and Intelligence Bureau (IB).
The ATS has been tasked with:
Mapping the timeline and frequency of bomb threats.
Tracing email domains, IP addresses, and voice call sources.
Identifying domestic or international linkages behind the coordinated hoaxes.
Recommending new standard operating procedures (SOPs) for managing false alerts efficiently.
Officials said the move is aimed at ensuring that genuine threats are not lost amid repeated fake alerts, which have strained police manpower and emergency response systems.
Disruption and Public Impact
Each bomb threat, though fake, has caused significant operational disruption in Chennai.
Schools and colleges have faced frequent temporary closures.
Hospitals and metro stations have undergone multiple evacuations.
Airports and malls have seen security drills and delays almost weekly.
Parents and school authorities have expressed concern over the psychological toll on children, as several institutions have received multiple threats in recent months.
The Tamil Nadu School Education Department is reportedly working with the police to develop a protocol for threat verification before evacuations are ordered.
Cybercrime Angle Under Probe
Investigators believe that a portion of these threats may be part of cyber harassment campaigns or digital pranks using encrypted communication platforms.
The Cyber Crime Cell has traced some messages to proxy servers based overseas, including Eastern Europe and Southeast Asia.
Authorities are also investigating whether some threats were made to divert attention from other illegal activities such as smuggling, cyberfraud, or online extortion.
“Even though most threats have been hoaxes, each one must be treated as real until proven otherwise. We are now adopting AI-based threat analysis tools to detect patterns faster,”
an official said.
Security Measures Strengthened
In light of the recurring threats, Chennai Police have enhanced CCTV surveillance, quick-response team deployment, and cyber monitoring across critical zones such as:
Chennai Central and Egmore railway stations
Chennai International Airport
Secretariat and High Court complexes
Major malls, schools, and IT parks
The Bomb Detection and Disposal Squad (BDDS) has also received upgraded equipment, including explosive trace detectors and AI-enabled communication tools to streamline field verification.
Public Advisory
Authorities have appealed to citizens to stay calm and vigilant, and to report suspicious calls or messages immediately through official helplines:
Police Helpline: 100
Cybercrime Portal: cybercrime.gov.in
Chennai Police Control Room: 112
Police have warned that making or forwarding false bomb threats constitutes a serious criminal offense under the Indian Penal Code (IPC) Section 505 (1B) and the Information Technology Act, punishable with imprisonment.
Conclusion
With 342 bomb threats in just over six months, Chennai’s security apparatus faces a mounting challenge of distinguishing between hoaxes and credible risks.
The involvement of the Anti-Terrorism Squad marks a turning point in efforts to trace the masterminds behind these fake alerts and restore public confidence in safety measures.
Officials maintain that while no actual explosive device has been discovered so far, vigilance remains critical, and every alert will continue to be treated with the highest level of precaution.
FAQs
Q1. How many bomb threats has Chennai received since April 2025?
A: Chennai Police have recorded 342 bomb threat incidents since April 2025.
Q2. Who will investigate the threats?
A: The Anti-Terrorism Squad (ATS), with assistance from the Cyber Crime Wing and Intelligence Bureau.
Q3. Were any real explosives found?
A: No. All reported threats so far have been hoaxes, but investigations are ongoing.
Q4. What action can be taken against fake callers?
A: Offenders can face imprisonment under IPC Section 505(1B) and the IT Act for spreading false information or causing panic.
Q5. What should citizens do if they receive a threat message?
A: Report it immediately to the nearest police station or cybercrime portal without forwarding or sharing it further.
Published on : 12th November
Published by : SMITA
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Source Credit : Reported by Indo-Asian News Service | NDTV