11 May,2025 10:35 PM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondent
All four individuals were detained by the GRP for further investigation. Representational Pic/File
Four including a caller was on Sunday detained by the police for allegedly making a hoax call regarding a bomb on a running train in Maharashtra, the Central Railway said.
According to an official Central Railway statement, a false alarm about a bomb on Train No. 12628 was made in the early hours of Sunday, but prompt and coordinated action by railway and police officials ensured that all passengers remained safe.
It said that the incident took place at around 1:05 am when the Solapur Police City Control informed the Divisional Security Control Room (DSCR/Solapur) about a distress call received on Dial 112.
"The caller claimed that a passenger in the rear general coach of the train was carrying a bomb in his bag. The mobile number of the caller was also shared," the officials said.
ALSO READ
Bomb blast threat to Indore's Holkar Stadium mentions 'Operation Sindoor'; turns out hoax
Mumbai's Tata Hospital receives hoax bomb threat; police say probe is underway
Mumbai: Tata Memorial Hospital receives bomb threat email, turns out to be hoax
Shirdi Sai Baba temple receives bomb threat, turns out to be hoax
Shirdi Sai Baba temple receives bomb threat, turns out to be hoax
The train was scheduled to stop at Wadi station at 1:21 am. On arrival, officers from the Government Railway Police (GRP), City Police, and Railway Protection Force (RPF) boarded the coach to investigate. A complete search was carried out, but no suspicious item was found, they said.
Attempts to contact the caller failed as his phone was unreachable. However, DSC Solapur Aditya, who reached Wadi at 1:50 am, used mobile tracking tools to identify the caller as Deep Singh Rathore, a resident of Jalaun, Uttar Pradesh, travelling from New Delhi to Guntakal, the statement said.
It said that Rathore stated that he had suspected three co-passengers of carrying illegal substances, hence he alerted the authorities.
He also said that the trio had briefly taken his mobile phone but returned it at Solapur station, after RPF intervention, it said.
The three passengers were questioned by the officials and they claimed Rathore had been recording videos of their family, which led them to take his phone temporarily to delete the footage.
The officials said that at 2:25 am, the Bomb Detection and Disposal Squad (BDDS) from Kalaburgi, led by Sharanappa and sniffer dog Rani, thoroughly inspected the train. All coaches were searched, and no explosives were found. A "Safe Certificate" was issued by BDDS at 4:15 am, and the train resumed its journey at 4:34 am.
"The incident was managed effectively with the joint efforts of security teams from Solapur, Raichur, Kalaburgi, Wadi, and other local authorities," officials said.
All four individuals including Rathore were detained by the GRP for further investigation.
"The railways urged passengers to avoid spreading rumours or making false reports. Legal action will be taken against anyone found guilty of making hoax calls or spreading misinformation, under the Indian Penal Code and Railways Act," the statement said.
