Kumar Bahukhandi
Mumbai Police received the threat message on its official WhatsApp-Imgae created by AI
The threat message claimed that human bombs had been planted in 34 vehicles in Mumbai and that the city would be “shaken” after the blasts.
Mumbai Police on Friday September 5, 2025 said the force has been put on high alert after receiving a threat message warning of bomb explosions across the city by terrorists from Pakistan on Anant Chaturdashi, September 6.
The message, received on the official WhatsApp number of the traffic police, claimed that human bombs had been planted in 34 vehicles across Mumbai and that the city would be “shaken” by the blasts.
The sender identified themselves as “Lashkar-e-Jihadi” and alleged that 14 Pakistani terrorists had entered India, according to police. The threat also claimed that 400 kg of RDX would be detonated, potentially killing “one crore people”.
A senior Mumbai police officer said the threat appears to be a hoax, but security has been heightened across the city.
Authorities are investigating the matter from all angles and have launched a search for the person behind the message, officials said.
The threat message came at a time when Mumbai is celebrating the 10-day Ganesh festival, and police are making security arrangements for the lakhs of people expected to throng the city’s streets on the final day, Saturday.
An official said security has been beefed up at key locations, and combing operations are being conducted at various places. The police have also appealed to Mumbaikars not to believe rumours and to report any suspicious activity.
More than 21,000 police personnel will be deployed to maintain law and order during idol immersions on Anant Chaturdashi. For the first time, the police will use artificial intelligence for route management and other traffic-related updates
The deployment will include 12 additional commissioners of police, 40 deputy commissioners, 61 assistant commissioners, 3,000 officers, and 18,000 police personnel.
Mumbai and Thane have seen multiple hoax threat messages in recent times. Earlier this week, a 43-year-old man was arrested for allegedly making a bomb threat call about blowing up a railway station in Thane, which later turned out to be a hoax after a thorough search.
The accused, Rupesh Madhukar Ranpise, called the police helpline around 4 pm on September 1, claiming that he had planted a bomb at Kalwa railway station. The railway police launched a search and caught Ranpise, who appeared to be under the influence of alcohol.
In the last week of July, the Mumbai Police received another bomb threat call warning of an explosion at Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport, triggering a massive search operation and heightened security measures. The calls were made from three different numbers, but after an hours-long search, officials confirmed that nothing suspicious was found.
In January, several schools in the Jogeshwari-Oshiwara area of Mumbai received an email threatening the presence of a bomb. The email claimed that the bomb had been placed by a group referred to as the “Afzal Gang.” However, the search found no suspicious items, and it was later confirmed to be a hoax.
(Source-PTI)
