Bhagalpur: A 35-year-old man from Bhagalpur district has been arrested for allegedly threatening to kill Prime Minister Narendra Modi via a WhatsApp message sent to an official at the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO). The accused, Sameer Ranjan, was picked up from Maheshi village in Sultanganj police station limits on Thursday evening.
The arrest came after intelligence agencies alerted Bhagalpur Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Hriday Kant, who immediately formed a special team led by DSP Chandrabhushan, Sultanganj Inspector Mrityunjay Kumar, and technical cell in-charge Inspector Ranjit Kumar.
Arrest After Four-Hour Operation
The accused had reportedly sent the threatening message from a mobile number that was initially traced to 71-year-old Mantu Chaudhary. However, after detailed technical analysis and questioning, the team zeroed in on Sameer Ranjan as the real sender of the message. Police say the operation took nearly four hours, with the SSP personally supervising the developments.
Ranjan has been placed under tight security at Sultanganj police station, where a joint team of Intelligence Bureau (IB) and National Investigation Agency (NIA) officers is currently interrogating him.
Background: Lost Job During Covid
Sameer Ranjan is a BCA graduate who reportedly lost his job during the COVID-19 pandemic and had been unemployed since. According to police sources, this may have contributed to his deteriorating mental state. The motive behind sending the threat is still under investigation.
SIM Card Misuse Uncovered
The mobile number used to send the threat was issued in the name of Mantu Chaudhary, who was initially picked up for questioning. He was released after verification confirmed his non-involvement in the case. Police believe Sameer used someone else’s documents to procure the SIM card.
