Mumbai: Maharashtra Police have launched a manhunt for a writer named Jagdish Uyike, a resident of Gondia city in the state after he was found to be the person behind the recent bomb threats that triggered a security alert at several airports and severely impacted hundreds of flights across the country to the extent of diversion and emergency landings.
Sources said Jagdish, hailing from Gondia, Maharashtra, allegedly sent bomb threats through email not only to Indian airlines but also threatening messages to the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO), Union Home Minister’s Office, Maharastra Chief Minister’s Office.
Due to the severity of these threats which included claims of bombing flights, the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) ordered a thorough probe involving the police and security agencies and called for strict action.
In the 13 days till October 26, over 300 flights operated by Indian carriers received hoax bomb threats, with most of these threats issued via social media, according to government agencies.
Email traced but accused on run
Tracing the emails used in sending the threats led the police and central agencies to Uikey, triggering a country-wide search but he remains untraceable yet. The teams visited his residence Gondia, but could not locate him. Sources added that Uikey Jagdish even issued a taunting challenge, claiming he could not be apprehended.
Multiple teams from Maharashtra police and central agencies are following leads to nab him and searches have been focused in the Vidarbha region, besides locations in Delhi, Madhya Pradesh, and several other states.
Funding by terror outfits
Apart from airlines, Jagdish has also sent bomb threat emails targeting railway stations and bus terminals. In his many emails, the man claimed that crores of Rupees had been secured in funding for planned explosions, purportedly in collaboration with terror outfits such as Sikhs for Justice (SFJ) and Jaish-e-Mohammed.
On Monday, Nagpur police heightened security outside the residence of Deputy Chief Minister and Home Minister Devendra Fadnavis following an email from Uikey, in which he threatened to protest unless given an opportunity to share information on a “secret terror code” he claimed to have deciphered. Uikey also requested a meeting with Prime Minister Narendra Modi to discuss his alleged knowledge of terror threats, according to officials.
