India: Nagpur police identify man behind wave of hoax bomb threats to airlines

Police in the Indian city of Nagpur identified a man from Maharashtra’s Gondia as the person responsible for the recent wave of hoax bomb threats, causing delayed flights and high security at airports. 

According to the Nagpur police, 35-year-old Jagdish Uikey has been named as the suspect behind these hoax threats. 

Earlier in 2021 also, Uikey, an author of a book on terrorism, was arrested in a case, the police said. 

“Uikey is currently on the run after these emails were traced back to him,” the senior police official said.

Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCP) Shweta Khedkar is leading the investigation, uncovering details of the case linked to the suspect’s emails. 

These emails were sent to various government offices, including the prime minister’s Office, railway minister, Maharashtra Chief Minister Eknath Shinde, his deputy, airline offices, the director general of police, and the Railway Protection Force (RPF). 

The security measures were increased on October 21 after Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw received an email from Uikey, and the mail was also forwarded to the Director General of Police (DGP) and RPF. 

Watch | India Investigates Hoax Airline Bomb Threats

The Nagpur police also heightened security outside Deputy CM Devendra Fadnavis’ residence in the city after the suspect sent an email threatening to protest against those given a chance to present his information on the secret terror code he claimed to have deciphered.

Moreover, Uikey requested a meeting with Prime Minister Narendra Modi to discuss terror threats. 

In 13 days, up to October 26, over 300 Indian flights have received hoax bomb threats, mostly via social media. 

On October 22 only, around 50 flights were impacted due to the hoax bomb threats, affecting IndiGo airlines and Air India. 

(With inputs from agencies)