Ashwin Kumar Supra, a 50-year-old man from Noida, has been arrested by the Crime Branch for allegedly issuing bomb threats in Mumbai city.
According to the Police, the accused hails from Bihar. He was traced through the mobile and SIM card used to send threats. Both were seized, and the police nabbed Supra. He is being brought to Mumbai for further questioning.
On Thursday, the accused had sent a threatening message on the Mumbai Traffic Police's WhatsApp helpline, in which he claimed that 14 terrorists from Pakistan had entered the city with "400 kg of RDX" planted in 34 vehicles. Following the scare, the Mumbai Police had heightened security measures across the city, with Anant Chaturdashi, the last day of Ganeshotsav, on Saturday.
Supra had identified the organisation as "Lashkar-e-Jihadi" in the threatening message. An investigation has been initiated by the Crime Branch in the matter. They have also informed the Anti-terrorism squad and other agencies.
A police official said, "This is the same Traffic Police WhatsApp helpline on which police had received threat messages in the past, which later turned out to be hoaxes. The Crime Branch has launched an investigation, and the Anti-Terrorism squad (ATS) and other agencies have also been informed."
Mumbai Police has also registered a case at the Worli Police Station against an unidentified person under Section 351 of the Bhartiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), and sub-sections 2,3, and 4.
Another police official stated, "Traffic police have received such bomb threat messages in the past. There is no need to panic. Security has been beefed up at key locations, and combing operations are underway. Mumbaikars are urged not to believe in rumours and report any suspicious activity."
While there was a belief that the threat message may be a hoax, the officials conducted a technical analysis to trace the source of the message. Ever since the threat message, maximum precautions are being taken as security measures are escalated, with high footfall expected at the end of the festival.
During the idol immersion on Anant Chaturdashi, more than 21,000 police personnel have been deployed across the city to maintain law and order and crowd management.