Patna: Bihar has been placed on high alert after a threatening message from a Pakistani X handle warned of bomb blasts across the state. The message, sent on Thursday afternoon, claimed that explosions would take place on 12 September at 4pm. The post also carried a direct challenge to the police, saying, “Stop it if you can,” which has alarmed both security agencies and the public.
The threat message reportedly came from an account named Chaudhary Arshad, believed to be operating from Pakistan’s Punjab province. The account is said to have links with Tehreek-e-Labbaik, a hardline organisation in Pakistan known for its inflammatory activities. Bihar Police headquarters took immediate action after receiving the message and issued an urgent alert to all district Superintendents of Police. ADG (Law and Order) Pankaj Darad circulated a letter instructing officials to remain vigilant and intensify security checks.
Police have been ordered to strengthen security arrangements at all major public places, religious sites and crowded areas. Bomb disposal squads and dog squads are conducting intensive searches to detect any suspicious objects or activities. Security personnel have also been deployed at bus stands, railway stations, shopping areas and government buildings to prevent any untoward incident. Officials have appealed to the public to remain calm but report any suspicious activity immediately.
The threat has come at a sensitive time as Bihar is preparing for its assembly elections. Security agencies had already stepped up surveillance in the state, but this latest warning has forced them to go into full alert mode. Just three days earlier, Takht Shri Harmandir Sahib in Patna Sahib – one of Sikhism’s most important shrines – also received a bomb threat. The premises were quickly evacuated and searched before being reopened to devotees, but the incident left residents anxious.
This is not an isolated incident. On 29 August, Patna Civil Court received a bomb threat which triggered a thorough search of the entire court complex. Around the same time, an alert was issued about three suspected Pakistani terrorists hiding in Bihar. Though police later declared that information to be false, it contributed to heightened tension across the state.
Authorities are now leaving nothing to chance. Special monitoring has been put in place across key districts, and additional forces have been deployed. Bihar Police have also sought cooperation from central security agencies to track the source of the message and verify its authenticity. Investigations are underway to identify the person or group behind the threat, with cybercrime units examining the X handle and its connections.
