Chandigarh: A major security alert was sounded in Chandigarh on Thursday morning, April 2, 2026, after the Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) office received an anonymous email threatening to blow up the Punjab and Haryana High Court. The message, received around 6:00 AM via a Hotmail account, prompted an immediate and comprehensive evacuation of the High Court complex. Security agencies, including the Bomb Detection and Disposal Squad (BDDS) and specialized dog units, were deployed to conduct an exhaustive sweep of the premises. Initial technical analysis suggests the email was likely drafted using AI-based translation tools, as it featured distinctive linguistic markers and cryptic references to “Dravidian politics.”
The threat has caused significant disruption to judicial proceedings, with lawyers, staff, and litigants forced to vacate the building as a precautionary measure. While investigators are currently treating the incident with high priority, they noted that the email follows a recent pattern of hoax threats targeting various institutions across the city, including over 30 schools and the District Court in Sector 43. However, the timing of this particular threat has amplified concerns, occurring just 24 hours after a crude bomb was hurled at the Punjab BJP headquarters in Sector 37.
In response to the escalating situation, the Chandigarh Police and the National Investigation Agency (NIA) have intensified surveillance at all major government installations. The Cyber Cell is working to trace the digital footprint of the sender, while local police have cordoned off the entire Sector 1 area to manage traffic and ensure public safety. Although no suspicious items have been recovered during the initial searches, the High Court remains under a strict security blanket. Authorities have urged the public to remain vigilant but calm as the multi-agency probe into the origin of the threatening communication continues.
