Odisha CM Directs Police to Strengthen Bomb Squad, Issue SOP Amid Fake Bomb Threats

Bhubaneswar, Jan 8: Odisha Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi on Thursday directed the state police to further strengthen bomb squads and put in place a clear Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) to ensure round-the-clock preparedness, following a series of fake bomb threats received by courts across the state.

The Chief Minister issued the directions while reviewing the security situation at a high-level meeting held in the evening. Emphasising the need for constant vigilance, Majhi said such threats were likely to recur and the administration must remain fully prepared to deal with them effectively.

During the meeting, officials informed the Chief Minister that all the bomb threats received so far had turned out to be false. Immediately after the threats were reported, teams from the Bomb Detection and Disposal Squad, Quick Reaction Team (QRT), Special Tactical Unit (STU), intelligence wing and other agencies rushed to the concerned locations and thoroughly investigated the alerts.

“There is no reason to panic,” officials briefed, adding that established security protocols were promptly followed in each case.

However, the Chief Minister underlined the importance of strengthening preparedness. “Since such threats are likely to come again and again, we have to be prepared for them,” Majhi said, while suggesting further reinforcement of bomb squads across the state. He noted that Odisha already has capable forces skilled in detecting and defusing explosives, and asked senior police officials to provide them with modern training and advanced equipment to enhance their efficiency.

It was also noted that soon after receiving information about the bomb threats earlier in the day, the Chief Minister had spoken to the Chief Secretary, the Additional Chief Secretary of the Home Department and the Director General of Police, directing them to take immediate and coordinated action.

Deputy Chief Minister Kanak Bardhan Singh Deo, Chief Secretary Anu Garg, Additional Chief Secretary (Home) Hemant Sharma, Principal Secretary to the Chief Minister Shashwat Mishra, Director General of Police Y.B. Khurania and Director of Intelligence R.P. Koche were among those present at the review meeting.