Nagpur cops identify suspect behind airline bomb hoaxes; accused on the run

Police in Nagpur, Maharashtra, have identified a 35-year-old man from Gondia as the individual responsible for a series of hoax bomb threats that incited panic, delayed flights, and heightened security at airports and other locations, an official reported.

The Nagpur city police's special branch has identified the man as Jagdish Uikey, an author of a book on terrorism, who was arrested in 2021 in a case, he said.

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

Cops uncover info

The investigation, led by Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCP) Shweta Khedkar uncovered detailed information linking Uikey to the emails.

Also Read:Bengal: 7 flights to and fro Kolkata receive hoax bomb threats  

Uikey sent emails to various government bodies, including the Prime Minister's Office (PMO), Railway Minister, Maharashtra Chief Minister Eknath Shinde and his deputy, airline offices, the Director General of Police (DGP) and the Railway Protection Force (RPF), the official said.

On Monday, the Nagpur police stepped up security outside Deputy Chief Minister and Home Minister Devendra Fadnavis's residence in the city after Uikey sent an email threatening to protest unless given a chance to present his information on the secret terror code he claimed to have deciphered. He also requested a meeting with Prime Minister Narendra Modi to discuss his knowledge of terror threats, he added.

Uikey's email sent on October 21 to Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw, and also forwarded to the DGP and RPF, led to security measures at railway stations, the official said.

Also Read: 50 flights get bomb threats in a day

Special team formed

"A special team has been formed to arrest Uikey," he said, adding that he will be apprehended him soon.

In 13 days till October 26, more than 300 flights operated by the Indian carriers received hoax bomb threats. Most of the threats were issued through social media, the government agencies earlier said.

On October 22 alone, around 50 flights, including 13 each of IndiGo and Air India received bomb threats, sources earlier said. 

(With agency inputs)