On 24 February 2026, major courts in West Bengal — including the Kolkata City Sessions Court, Asansol District Court, Durgapur Court, and Murshidabad District Judge Office — received bomb threats on the same day, sparking widespread panic and security responses.
Threat Alerts in Multiple Courts
In the early hours of Tuesday, security officials received threatening emails and calls stating that explosives were planted inside court complexes. At the Kolkata City Sessions Court, a threatening email was sent to the office of the presiding judge, claiming that bombs had been placed within the premises.
At the receipt of the threat, the court authorities immediately alerted police, who quickly evacuated the complex and carried out an extensive search operation with bomb squads and sniffer dogs. Lawyers, litigants, and other visitors were asked to step outside as a precautionary measure.
Similar Threats Across the State
Almost simultaneously, similar alerts were reported in other district courts in West Bengal:
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Asansol District Court — A threatening email claimed explosives were present inside the court premises.
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Durgapur Court — Preventive actions were taken after alert calls were received.
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Murshidabad District Judge Office — The threat was connected to pressure over a legal process involving voter list revision or SIR (Summary Investigation Report), according to local bar association leaders.
In all these locations, courtrooms were cleared and safety sweeps were conducted; no explosives or suspicious items were found during searches.
Police Response and Investigation
State police along with bomb squads responded promptly, sealing off court complexes and using sniffer dogs to scan all rooms and corridors. According to officials, searches were thorough and ongoing. There have been no arrests so far, and police are investigating the origin of the threat emails/calls and motives behind the coordinated scare.
Impact on Legal Operations
All court operations in affected complexes were temporarily suspended until authorities confirmed safety inside the buildings. Lawyers and litigants expressed concern and called for strict action against those responsible for this disruption.
Context and Wider Concerns
Bomb threat hoaxes — especially through emails — have occurred in other parts of India recently and often turn out to be false or misleading but still cause disruption and public anxiety. Security officials treat each threat seriously until cleared.
