One arrested for making bomb hoax calls

Bangalore, July 30 (UNI) The police today arrested a 38-year-old private bank executive on the charge of making bomb hoax calls in the city.

City Police Commissioner Shankar Bidari said one Abdul Rashid alias Abdul Rahim of Sudhamanagar in the city had made calls to a number of schools and even to the police control room using his mobile phone during the last two days. After tracking his cell phone number, police nabbed the prankster.

Mr Bidari said he committed the offence after being 'inspired' by television reports on a number of bomb hoax calls made in the city. This is a serious offence. Anyone indulging in such activity could get three years of rigorous imprisonment,'' he said.

Meanwhile, three more hoax calls were reported in the city, keeping the police on their toes. One such call was made to the accountant of Surana College in Jayanagar. Police and a dog squad rushed to the spot and conducted a thorough search of the college premises and found the call to be a hoax.

A similar call was received at a school on BEL road and Jalahalli police conducted a search. In another incident, a caller threatened the authorities of Mount Everest English school this morning, but it also proved to be a hoax.

''We will take strict action against those who try to disturb peace. Bangalore is now safe and there is no cause for the people to worry,'' Mr Bidari said.

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