Bomb hoax causes panic in Ambala

Ambala, Feb 29 (UNI) Police were thrown into a tizzy after an unidentified caller threatened to blow up Ambala Cantt railway station and bus stand and a mall in Ambala city today.

Police swung into action to conduct intensive search at the railway station and bus stand Ambala Cantonment and Galaxy Mall in Ambala City after the Superintendent of Police (SP) K V Ramanna received a threatening call about blowing up these places at the twin towns.

In view of the seriousness of the situation, police pickets were posted around these places to stall any untoward incident.

ASP Balbir Singh said the anonymous call was received at about 1200 hrs, threatening to blow up these places. Bomb defusal squads, sniffer dogs, and a large number of police personnel were sent to the threatened places immediately.

The Galaxy Mall was vacated and search was conducted in whole of the complex. All the shopkeepers and owners of residential houses were alerted about the threat.

The Government Railway Police was also alerted immediately to conduct extensive search. Every passenger and person present on the station was searched.

Besides, the nearby general bus stand and surrounding areas were also searched.

SP Ramanna later said no clue was found of the person who had made the threatening call. He said the caller had made the anonymous call from a PCO near a dhaba.

The PCO owner had been detained and was being questioned. He however failed to recall the identity of the caller so far, the SP added.

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