Mumbai was put on high alert after the police received an 'anonymous' call on Saturday evening (December 30), that warned of serial blasts in the city, officials said on Sunday. This comes as the city is preparing to hold New Year celebrations when people are expected to step out of their homes in large numbers.
"Mumbai Police Control received a threat call on Saturday evening, around 6 pm. The caller claimed that there would be serial blasts in Mumbai before hanging up," an official said.
All police stations and crime units were alerted, swinging the police into action. Intense searches were carried out at several key public places and installations across the city. However, no suspicious material or explosive devices were found.
Caller identified to be mentally unstable
As the police took up the probe, it discovered that a 32-year-old man who was suffering from a mental ailment made a hoax call to the Maharashtra police’s control room about a bomb in Mumbai, the police said.
The police traced the man to Amravati, however, did not arrest him as he was found to be mentally unstable, an official from Amravati police said.
"The man, who lives in the Raja Peth police station limits, called the 112 emergency helpline number of the state police on Saturday evening," he said, adding that the caller claimed that there was going to be a bomb blast in Mumbai and hung up the call.
Investigations revealed that the call was made from a mobile phone and its location was traced immediately, he said.
The man is mentally unstable and is undergoing psychiatric treatment, the official said.
CM reacts
Chief Minister Eknath Shinde reacted to the hoax call and said that Mumbai Police is alert and will take strict action if anyone is indulged in doing anything illegal.
"Mumbai Police is alert and fully capable. If anyone does anything illegal, strict action will be taken..." he said.
(With inputs from agencies)
