Bomb threat demanding Rs 40 crore triggers panic at Jaipur's SMS Hospital
Bomb-Like Object Found Outside Pune Hospital, Area Evacuated
Jaipur- Chaos ensued at Jaipur's Sawai Man Singh (SMS) Hospital on Wednesday morning following a bomb threat demanding Rs 40 crore; the caller warned that if the money was not paid, he would blow up the hospital premises.
According to reports, a threatening message was received at the State Police Control Room early on Wednesday morning. Following this, several police teams, bomb disposal squads, and security personnel immediately rushed to the hospital and conducted a search operation that lasted nearly two to three hours.
However, during the search operation, no suspicious objects, explosive materials, or unattended items were found within the hospital premises, and the premises were subsequently declared safe, according to PTI.
During the search, a close watch was kept on the hospital's daily operations, while security checks in sensitive areas of the premises were further tightened.
Speaking to ETV Bharat, SMS police station house officer Rajesh Sharma said that an individual called the police control room to report the presence of a bomb within the SMS Hospital complex. On receiving the call, the police administration went into high alert mode, and a meticulous search was conducted across various hospital wards, the OPD complex, parking areas, the emergency unit, and other sensitive locations.
Additionally, the Hospital Superintendent, Dr Mrinal Joshi, said, "A threat to bomb the hospital was received at the Police Control Room (PCR). Following this, the police and other teams conducted a search of the hospital premises. However, no suspicious objects were found. The police are investigating the matter."
Meanwhile, SHO Sharma confirmed that Monu Gupta, the individual who called the PCR to issue a bomb threat, has been taken into custody. A team has been dispatched to bring him from Haryana to Jaipur. He will be interrogated upon his arrival. A case is being registered at the Vidhayakpuri Police Station.
The police are also attempting to uncover the motive behind this threat, as well as trying to determine whether the accused acted alone or if he had links to a larger extortion or cybercrime network.
At this government medical centre, one of Rajasthan's largest government hospitals, the threat has sparked anxiety among patients, their accompanying relatives, and the hospital staff.
