Punjab Police arrest software engineer Shubham Dubey in Sri Harmandir Sahib bomb threat case

PTC Web Desk: The Punjab Police have detained a software engineer, Shubham Dubey, in connection with a series of bomb threats targeting the Golden Temple in Amritsar. Dubey, aged 24, is being questioned.

According to Amritsar Police Commissioner Gurpreet Singh Bhullar, the bomb threats were not limited to the Golden Temple but also extended to various schools in Delhi, courts, Chief Ministers, Members of Parliament, and multiple institutions in Tamil Nadu. Bhullar revealed that these threats were sent via email, and investigations suggest that the perpetrators used the name of the Golden Temple to draw attention to Tamil Nadu-related issues. The emails also made reference to South Indian political parties and leaders, including DMK officials.

Shubham Dubey, a software engineer who had worked with two companies but is currently unemployed, came under suspicion after technical evidence linked him to the bomb threats. The police have confirmed that the accused used the dark web to send threatening emails from various international locations. These emails, which began circulating since July 14, include a threat to bomb the Golden Temple using RDX.

Following these threats, security agencies in Amritsar heightened their vigilance, with extensive security measures and searches implemented in and around the gurdwara complex. The investigation has now expanded, with the police focusing on whether these threats stem from an isolated cyber attack or a broader, more organised extremist plot.

According to the police, the accused utilised the dark web to send the emails, making it difficult to trace the true location of the sender. Initially, emails were sent from Outlook, but the threat emails received on July 16 were sent from a Hotmail account. Authorities are working on analysing the technical details and links to international sources.