Noida police arrested 51-year-old Ashwani Kumar, a Bihar native residing in Sector 79, for allegedly sending a hoax terror threat to Mumbai Police, causing widespread alarm ahead of Anant Chaturdashi. The threatening WhatsApp message, received on Thursday, September 4, claimed that 14 Pakistani terrorists from a group called “Lashkar-e-Jihadi” had infiltrated Mumbai with 400 kg of RDX planted in 34 vehicles, including “human bombs,” capable of killing millions. Mumbai Police, after tracing the message to Noida, collaborated with local authorities to apprehend Kumar, who was detained under the jurisdiction of Sector 113 police station.

The swift operation saw Noida’s SWAT team seize Kumar’s mobile phone, seven additional phones, three SIM cards, and other digital equipment from his possession, revealing his attempt to frame a friend, Firoz, due to a personal grudge stemming from a 2023 legal dispute in Patna.

Kumar, an astrologer who has lived in Noida since 2020, had previously been jailed for three months after Firoz lodged a case against him. The hoax message, sent to Mumbai Traffic Police’s official WhatsApp helpline, prompted heightened security measures across Mumbai, with bomb detection squads and anti-terror units deployed during the Ganesh festival. Preliminary investigations confirmed the threat as a hoax, but authorities remain on high alert.

Despite the false alarm, the incident underscores the serious implications of hoax threats, especially during high-profile events like Ganesh Visarjan. Mumbai Police are transporting Kumar to the city for further questioning and court proceedings, with ongoing investigations to uncover the full motive behind his actions. The timing of the threat, coinciding with festival preparations, amplified public concern, but officials have reassured citizens that all necessary precautions are in place.

Kumar’s arrest highlights the efficiency of inter-state police coordination and the critical role of cyber units in tracing digital threats, though questions remain about preventing such disruptive hoaxes in the future.

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