Heightened alert swept through Moga after a menacing email threatened devastation at the district court, resulting in a full-scale evacuation and intense police scrutiny. Received by court administration, the communication detailed a supposed bomb placement, citing exact timings to maximize disruption. Response was immediate—premises vacated, operations halted.
A multi-agency effort unfolded: Local police, CRPF contingents, and NSG-like bomb experts fanned out across the 10-acre complex. From chief justice’s chamber to advocate lounges, no stone was left unturned. Thermal imagers and explosive vapor detectors aided the search, concluding with an ‘all clear’ signal after exhaustive checks.
Cyber forensics hit a wall initially due to the sender’s use of Tor networks, but IP logs and linguistic analysis are yielding clues. Officials suspect it’s a lone wolf or prankster inspired by global terror feeds. An FIR invokes IT Act provisions alongside terror threats.
The human angle reveals frayed nerves: Litigants from remote areas, some elderly, endured the sun-baked wait. Courts rescheduled 40+ matters, backlog mounting. Punjab DGP held a presser, outlining statewide threat assessment protocols now including email whitelisting.
This cyber-induced panic mirrors national trends, where hoax threats spike during festivals or political unrest. Stakeholders call for judicial cyber police units. With Moga back online, the resolve hardens: Perpetrators face the full might of law, ensuring courts remain bastions of justice unbowed by virtual intimidation.