Bareilly (UP), March 27 A bomb threat email triggered a security scare at an old passport office in Bareilly on Friday, prompting a thorough search of the premises, although no suspicious object was found, police said.
According to officials, the threat was received around 11:15 am on the office's official email ID at the passport facility located in Deendayal Puram, under the Exhibition Nagar area.
Regional Passport Officer Shailendra Singh said the office was officially closed due to Ram Navami, but central-level work was ongoing when the email was received.
"The email claimed that the passport office would be blown up using a 'poisonous bomb' by 2 pm," Singh said, adding that the matter was immediately reported to the police, as well as the Ministry of External Affairs and the Ministry of Home Affairs.
Superintendent of Police Manush Pareek said senior police and administrative officials rushed to the spot with a heavy force, and the premises were evacuated as a precautionary measure.
Bomb disposal squads and dog squads conducted an extensive search of the building, including rooms, corridors and other sensitive areas, he said. Security in the surrounding area was also tightened, while cyber teams have been activated to trace the source of the threatening email.
"No suspicious object has been recovered so far. All necessary security measures are in place and further investigation is underway," the officer said.