Bomb threats to museums in Kolkata, Goa turn out to be hoax

Museums in Kolkata and Goa received bomb threats over email on January 5, which triggered search operations.

A three-hour-long search was carried out at Kolkata’s iconic Indian Museum, however, no explosive could be found.

Public entry inside the museum was also put on hold for the day.

"The threat mail stated that several bombs were planted inside the Indian Museum, and those would explode any moment," an officer said.

Personnel of the bomb squad of Kolkata Police started the search and sanitisation operation at the museum around 11.30 am.

Apart from the bomb squad, sniffer dogs, a quick response team (QRT) and a huge contingent of police were positioned in and around the building in central Kolkata, he said.

Similarly, Goa police's bomb disposal squad checked for explosives at the National Museum of Customs and GST but found nothing. The police confirmed that the email was a hoax.

"We immediately approached Panaji police station with a complaint, following which the bomb disposal squad was called in, and the museum was checked for suspicious objects," an officer said.