Hoax bomb threats keep Vadodara cops on toes

Vadodara, Aug 20 (UNI) Security was tightened in all educational institutions and public places in the city today after two prestigious institutions--M S University of Baroda and Bright school--received bomb threats in the name of ''SIMI Atankvadi.'' Another such anonymous threat letter was also reportedly received by authorities of the Gujarat State Transport Corporation depot at Dabhoi, about 30 km from here today.

The bomb threat created tension at the Bright School, located in the posh Karelibaug area, when the school authorities asked students to vacate classes soon after the letter claiming that a bomb had been planted in the school was found in their mail box.

When a bomb disposal squad and local police were busy in search of objectionable things in the school, the Faculty of Arts in the M S University, under Sayajiganj police station area, and Dabhoi state transport depot reported to have received similar threat letters.

Police and bomb disposal squads thoroughly searched all these three places and the threats turned out to be hoax.

Police sources said some SIMI activists seemed to be behind the hoax bomb threats in the city in a bid to divert attention of police, who are investigating the Ahmedabad serial bomb blast.

The authorities, as a precautionary measure, have sounded an alert to all police stations and educational institutions in and around the city, police sources said.

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