Bihar: Bomb threat call at Patna airport a 'hoax', caller arrested, says report

A search operation was initiated at Patna's Jayprakash Narayan Airport after a caller made a bomb threat, police said on Wednesday.

The caller, who made the call under the influence of alcohol, was later arrested by the Patna police.

In response to the call, a bomb disposal crew searched the airport premises, according to police. However, it was eventually discovered that the call was a hoax.

Accused was a mental patient

The accused was also a mental patient, Samastipur SP Vinay Tiwari told ANI.

"The youth namely Sudhanshu Shekhar alias Mukund who threatened to blow up Darbhanga and Patna airport has been arrested from Punjabi Colony under Nagar PS area. Police also seized the mobile of the accused. In the primary investigation, the accused seems to be a mental patient & is an alcoholic. He was drunk even when he was arrested," Tiwari told ANI.

"Samastipur police have taken the caller into custody. Initial inquiry revealed that the person had made the call under the influence of alcohol. Detailed inquiry is being done. The phone from which the call was made has been recovered. Prima facie it appears to be a hoax call,", Patna SSP Rajeev Mishra, told ANI.

Bomb threat call was received at Patna Airport

"A bomb threat call was received at Patna Airport. Based on the information, Airport Bomb Threat Assessment Committee found the call to be non-specific. The state BDDS team carried out checks", Patna Airport Director said.

In July last year, a Delhi-bound IndiGo flight (6e 2126) was reportedly grounded at Patna airport after a passenger claimed that he had a bomb in his bag.

The bomb squad and police who were at the spot conducted an inspection after a man reportedly claimed a bomb was in his baggage. His bag was checked further but no bomb was found.

The passenger has been detained and the plane is being checked further. All passengers were safely deboarded from the Delhi-bound IndiGo flight (6e 2126) at Patna airport.