Nagpur, Oct 29: Authorities in Nagpur, Maharashtra, have pinpointed a 35-year-old man from Gondia as the individual responsible for a series of hoax bomb threats that incited panic, caused flight delays, and heightened security measures at airports and other facilities. The suspect, identified as Jagdish Uikey, is an author who previously wrote a book on terrorism and was arrested in 2021 for unrelated charges.
According to a senior police official, Uikey is currently evading capture following the trace of emails linked to him. The investigation, spearheaded by Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCP) Shweta Khedkar, revealed substantial evidence connecting Uikey to the threats.
Uikey reportedly sent emails to various government agencies, including the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO), the Railway Minister, Maharashtra Chief Minister Eknath Shinde and his deputy, airline offices, and the Director General of Police (DGP), as well as the Railway Protection Force (RPF).
On Monday, security was heightened outside the residence of Deputy Chief Minister and Home Minister Devendra Fadnavis after Uikey issued an email threatening to stage a protest unless he was granted a meeting to share his alleged insights on a “secret terror code” he claims to have deciphered. He also sought a meeting with Prime Minister Narendra Modi to discuss potential terror threats.
Uikey’s email to Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw, sent on October 21 and also forwarded to the DGP and RPF, prompted increased security measures at railway stations.
In the 13 days leading up to October 26, over 300 flights operated by Indian carriers received bomb threats, with most threats communicated through social media. On October 22 alone, approximately 50 flights, including 13 from IndiGo and Air India, reported bomb threats, according to earlier government reports.
A special team has been established to apprehend Uikey, and officials are confident he will be caught soon.
