The Mumbai Police’s numerous helplines and control rooms received 31 bomb-scare-related calls in the past seven months but every one of them turned out to either be a hoax or unfounded. The authorities also received a hoax suicide call in the same period. Seventeen people have been arrested in connection with the hoax calls. According to the police, mental illness and drunkenness are the root causes of the hoaxes.

On an average, the main control room receives bomb or other security threat-related calls five to six times a month. “The Mumbai Police’s helpline numbers receive a lot of phone calls and we try to solve citizen’s issues. Whenever we get a call, within 5-6 minutes, our team reaches the spot. Threat calls are taken seriously. I urge people to refrain from making hoax calls,” said Balsing Rajput, DCP, detection.

On August 6, a 25-year-old man was arrested from Juhu for allegedly making a hoax call to the Mumbai police. He claimed that serial bomb blasts would take place in local trains across the city. Explaining the standard operating procedures for attending to a bomb-related call, Rajput said, “Usually, if a caller notices suspicious activities or talks about bombs, the police reaches the spot concerned with a bomb squad and dog squad and inspect the area. We also interrogate the caller in such instances. The case is investigated until we reach the conclusion that the place is safe.”

“Most of the people who made hoax calls were mentally unfit, drunk or had reached out to us in a fit of rage,” said Rajput. “Citizens must refrain from creating panic. Action will be taken against violators,” he added. According to data provided by the Mumbai police, there were 18 hoax calls in 2021 while there were 15 the following year.

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