#LudhianaCourtAlert: Police Hold Mock Drill After Bomb Threat Emails

#LudhianaCourtAlert: Police Hold Mock Drill After Bomb Threat Emails. A CREATE IMAGE AI 

GGS NEWS

Ludhiana: Security agencies conducted a large-scale mock drill at the Ludhiana district court complex on Tuesday to assess preparedness and response mechanisms following a series of bomb threat emails received by judicial establishments in the region. The exercise was aimed at testing coordination among police, bomb disposal squads, fire services, and medical teams in the event of a real emergency.

According to senior police officials, the mock drill was initiated after authorities received threat mails warning of explosive devices planted inside court premises. While preliminary investigations suggested the emails were hoaxes, officials said the threats could not be taken lightly, given the sensitive nature of court complexes and the large number of people who visit them daily.

The drill began in the morning hours, when court staff and visitors were informed about a simulated bomb threat. Police personnel immediately cordoned off the area, restricted entry and exit points, and began evacuating people from the premises in a systematic manner. Judges, lawyers, litigants, and staff were guided to designated safe zones as part of the standard operating procedure (SOP).

Bomb disposal squads and dog squads were deployed to conduct a thorough search of the court complex, including courtrooms, record rooms, parking areas, and common facilities. Fire brigade teams and ambulances were also stationed at strategic locations to handle any emergency situation. Officials said no suspicious object was found during the drill, confirming it to be a simulated exercise.

A senior Ludhiana Police officer said the mock drill was crucial to evaluate real-time response capabilities. “In recent weeks, multiple institutions across the country have received bomb threat emails. Even if many turn out to be fake, every threat must be treated as real until proven otherwise. The mock drill helps us identify gaps in coordination, communication, and evacuation procedures,” the officer said.

Police also assessed the time taken to clear the premises, secure the area, and complete the search operation. Feedback was collected from various teams involved in the exercise to improve future responses. Authorities noted that while evacuation was largely smooth, there was scope for better crowd management and quicker dissemination of information to avoid panic.

Members of the legal fraternity welcomed the precautionary measures but urged authorities to strengthen cyber tracking to identify those behind the threat emails. “Such threats disrupt court functioning and create unnecessary fear. Strict action should be taken against those misusing technology to spread panic,” said a senior advocate present during the drill.

Court proceedings were briefly affected during the exercise, with several hearings adjourned for a short period. Normal functioning resumed after police declared the premises safe.

Police officials reiterated that there was no immediate threat to the public and appealed for calm. They also urged citizens to cooperate with security agencies during such drills, stating that preparedness and public awareness are key to ensuring safety in high-footfall public institutions like courts.

Investigations are ongoing to trace the source of the bomb threat emails, while security has been enhanced at key government buildings across Ludhiana as a precautionary measure