Chandigarh: Chandigarh witnessed heightened security on Thursday after a bomb threat was received against the Punjab Secretariat and Mini Secretariat, prompting immediate evacuations and a full-scale security operation. Officials confirmed that all employees and visitors were safely escorted out of the premises as precautionary measures.
The threat, reportedly sent via email from a Gmail account and claimed by the Khalistan National Army, also included a direct warning against Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann. In response, both Punjab and Haryana Secretariat complexes were evacuated, and all administrative work was temporarily suspended.
Security forces, including Chandigarh Police, Punjab Police, the Bomb Disposal Squad (BDS), CISF, and the dog squad, quickly cordoned off the area and launched a thorough search operation. Every building block, office, and parking lot is being meticulously examined to ensure no suspicious objects are present.
This incident follows a spate of similar threats in the region, including bomb warnings to several schools in Chandigarh earlier this week. The email also reportedly referenced potential targeting of Prime Minister Narendra Modi during his upcoming visit to Punjab, adding to the seriousness of the situation.
Authorities have appealed to the public to remain calm and avoid spreading rumors. “Central and state-level agencies are on high alert, and every possible precaution is being taken,” said an official. While no explosives have been found so far, security forces have maintained a strict lockdown of the Secretariat complexes until investigations are complete.
With over 5,000 employees working across these offices and numerous visitors daily, officials emphasized that safety remains the top priority. The investigation is ongoing, and the Secretariat will only resume normal operations once authorities are satisfied that the threat has been neutralized.
