"Terror Threat Busted: Mumbai Cops Trace 400 Kg RDX Hoax to Man from Patna"

Patna Man Arrested in Noida for Hoax RDX Threat to Mumbai Police Amid Ganesh Festival

Mumbai/Noida: A 50-year-old man from Patna was arrested in Noida on Thursday for allegedly sending a bomb threat to the Mumbai Police, claiming that 400 kg of RDX had been planted across the city by Pakistani terrorists. The message threatened large-scale explosions to “kill 1 crore people” in Mumbai, triggering a high-alert security response during the ongoing Ganesh festival.

The accused, identified as Ashwinikumar Sureshkumar Supra, was tracked down in Noida’s Sector 79 using local intelligence, CCTV footage from a nearby grocery store, and mobile surveillance. Police say Supra, who is reportedly an astrologer and a trader, had switched off his mobile phone after sending the message via WhatsApp to the Mumbai Traffic Police helpline. He is currently going through a marital separation, according to police sources.

A second person has also been arrested from Sorakha village for allegedly providing the SIM card used to send the threatening message.

Details of the Threat Message

The threatening WhatsApp message, received on Thursday, claimed that 14 Pakistani terrorists had infiltrated Mumbai and planted 400 kg of RDX in 34 vehicles across the city. It also mentioned a terror group by the name ‘Lashkar-e-Jihadi’.

The message came just days before Anant Chaturdashi, the concluding day of Ganesh Chaturthi, when large crowds gather for idol immersion ceremonies. The Mumbai Police, already on high alert for festival security, were forced to escalate surveillance and search operations.

Swift Police Action and Inter-State Coordination

Following the receipt of the threat, Mumbai Police Joint Commissioner Rajiv Narayan Mishra coordinated with Noida Police Commissioner Laxmi Singh to track the sender. A Special Weapons and Tactics (SWAT) team was deployed, leading to the arrest of Supra in a swift operation.

He was later handed over to Mumbai Police for further interrogation.

Investigation and Current Status

Police believe the message to be a hoax, but are conducting a full technical analysis to confirm the origin and intent. The Anti-Terrorism Squad (ATS) has also been informed, and combing operations continue at sensitive locations across the city.

According to officials, the Mumbai Police had earlier confirmed that the threat message received on their WhatsApp helpline explicitly referred to a group named ‘Lashkar-e-Jihadi’, suggesting a possible link to a larger terror conspiracy, though investigations are ongoing to verify the authenticity of the claim.

“Traffic police have received such threats before. There is no reason to panic. Security has been heightened across key locations, and we urge Mumbaikars to remain calm and report any suspicious activity,” a senior officer said on Friday.

A case has been registered at Worli Police Station under Section 351 (criminal intimidation) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, along with relevant sub-sections (2, 3, and 4).

Heavy Police Deployment for Immersion Day

To ensure public safety, over 21,000 police personnel have been deployed across Mumbai for the Ganesh idol immersion on Saturday. Lakhs of devotees are expected to take to the streets as the city prepares to bid farewell to Lord Ganesha.