Mumbai Bomb Threat: Bihar Man Arrested In Noida For 34 Human Bombs, RDX Terror Threat

In a significant breakthrough, a 50-year-old man from Bihar was arrested in Noida on Saturday for allegedly sending a bomb threat to the Mumbai Traffic Police's official WhatsApp number. The accused has been identified as Ashwin Kumar Supra.

Bomb Threat

The cops have arrested the man, who hails from Bihar, in Noida. It comes a day after the Mumbai Traffic Control Room received a message claiming that 34 "human bombs" had been planted across the city and that 14 Pakistani terrorists had entered India.

The sender, using the name of the terrorist organisation 'Lashkar-e-Jihadi,' also threatened a major explosion involving 400 kg of RDX.

Following the threat, Mumbai Police launched a full investigation and stepped up security across the city, especially during the ongoing Ganesh Chaturthi festival. Police officials stated that all angles of the threat were being investigated and urged citizens not to fall for rumours.

"This is the same traffic police WhatsApp helpline on which police had received threat messages in the past, which later turned out to be hoaxes. The Crime Branch has launched an investigation, and Anti-Terrorism Squad (ATS) and other agencies have also been informed," a police official told the Times of India.

A case was lodged at Worli police station against under section 351 of Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita and sub-sections 2,3, and 4. "Traffic police have received such bomb threat messages in the past. There is no need to panic. Security has been beefed up at key locations, and combing operations are underway. Mumbaikars are urged not to believe in rumours and report any suspicious activity," another official had told the English daily.

Motive

According to police, the motive for the threat appears to be personal revenge. Ashwin Supra had previously served a three-month jail term in 2023 in a case filed by a man named Firoz in Patna. To avenge this, Supra allegedly sent the threatening message in Firoz's name to the Mumbai authorities.

A substantial amount of electronic evidence was recovered from the accused's possession, including seven mobile phones, multiple SIM cards, and various memory card holders. Supra's primary phone and SIM card have been seized, and he is being taken to Mumbai for further questioning.