Mangaluru: The Mangaluru City Police have arrested a 38-year-old man from Tamil Nadu for allegedly making a hoax bomb threat call to Mangaluru International Airport (MIA) on August 29. The accused, identified as Sasikumar, a resident of Vellore district, was tracked down and taken into custody after an investigation.
Hoax call creates panic
According to City Police Commissioner Sudheer Kumar Reddy CH, an anonymous caller contacted the airport late on August 29, warning that the terminal building should be evacuated or it would be destroyed.
The Duty Terminal Manager of MIA immediately reported the incident, leading to the registration of a case at Bajpe Police Station under Sections 351(2), 351(3) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) and Section 3(1)(d) of the Suppression of Unlawful Acts Against the Safety of Civil Aviation Act, 1982.
Swift police action
Security personnel and the police acted swiftly after receiving the alert. Though the call was soon confirmed to be a hoax, authorities carried out checks at the airport premises to ensure safety. Additional security measures were also put in place to avoid disruption of operations.
Commissioner Reddy said that based on technical surveillance and inputs, Sasikumar was traced to Vellore, Tamil Nadu, and taken into custody.
Confession during interrogation
During interrogation, Sasikumar allegedly confessed to searching for airport contact numbers on social media before making the threatening calls. He admitted that one of the calls was placed to Mangaluru International Airport.
“He did not have any explosives or actual plans to target the airport. The call was made purely as a hoax,” a senior officer said.
The accused was subsequently produced before the jurisdictional court, which remanded him to judicial custody.
Legal implications of hoax threats
Police officials emphasised that hoax calls, even when made without intent to cause physical harm, attract serious criminal charges as they create panic, disrupt public services, and divert critical security resources.
Under the Suppression of Unlawful Acts Against the Safety of Civil Aviation Act, 1982, making false threats against civil aviation facilities can result in imprisonment and heavy fines.
Airports on high alert
Recent years have seen multiple instances of hoax bomb threats across Indian airports, forcing aviation authorities to maintain heightened vigilance. Officials warn that such actions not only disrupt flight schedules and inconvenience passengers but also pose risks by diverting resources from genuine threats.
The Mangaluru City Police have urged the public to act responsibly and avoid spreading misinformation or panic. “Any such attempt to cause alarm or disrupt safety will be dealt with strictly under the law,” Commissioner Reddy said.
Conclusion
The arrest of Sasikumar highlights the seriousness with which law enforcement agencies treat hoax bomb threats. Authorities reiterated that such calls are not mere pranks but criminal acts with far-reaching consequences. The case will now proceed in court, where Sasikumar faces charges under both the BNS and aviation safety laws.