Golden Temple receives 8th bomb threat in six days, Akal Takht Jathedar raises alarm over security failures
PTC Web Desk: Amritsar’s revered Golden Temple continues to face serious security concerns as bomb threats were issued for the sixth consecutive day, with the latest arriving on Saturday. The Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC) received yet another threatening email, making it the eighth such threat in less than a week.
In response, security inside and around the Golden Temple has been significantly heightened. The SGPC’s own task force has also been deployed in full strength. Meanwhile, Akal Takht Jathedar Giani Kuldeep Singh Gargaj expressed strong dissatisfaction with the performance of both central and state security agencies.
Despite the use of advanced technology and available resources, the authorities have failed to trace the real culprits so far, the Jathedar said. He demanded that the perpetrator be identified and brought before Khalsa Panth immediately. “There must be a deeper probe into the motive behind these repeated threats,” he said, emphasising that the Golden Temple is not just a Sikh religious site, but a spiritual symbol of peace for all humanity, drawing thousands of pilgrims daily.
The Jathedar further questioned the delay in identifying the actual culprit, even after the arrest of a suspect named Shubham Dubey. “Is this an attempt to instill fear among devotees and reduce footfall?” he asked.
According to the Amritsar Police Commissioner, 24-year-old Shubham Dubey, a software engineer and former employee at two tech firms, is currently unemployed and under intense interrogation. Technical evidence allegedly links him to the threats.
Officials revealed that the threatening emails were sent using the dark web, complicating the tracking process. The IP addresses traced so far point to multiple foreign locations. Initial threats were sent via Outlook, but the July 16 email came from a Hotmail account, suggesting the use of different email platforms to mislead investigators.
The Commissioner also noted that similar threat emails have been sent to schools, courts, Chief Ministers, and institutions across various states, including Delhi and Tamil Nadu. Authorities believe these incidents may be part of a larger attempt by certain individuals, groups, or organizations to garner attention.
Investigative agencies are now working to establish whether this is an isolated cybercrime or the tip of a coordinated extremist conspiracy. SGPC president Advocate Harjinder Singh Dhami urged the authorities to conduct a thorough and swift investigation. “Whether it’s a prank or part of a bigger plot, this cannot be taken lightly,” he said.
- With inputs from agencies
