‘Just for fun’ hoax calls a big headache for cops

LUCKNOW: A hoax call to the police control room about a bomb planted inside the Vidhan Bhawan brought the city cops on their toes on October 1 afternoon. But the caller, Nar Singh, 28, who had come home on a three-day leave, said he was only trying to have “some fun.”

Singh’s act of fun resulted in police launching an extensive search exercise on the Vidhan Bhawan premises.

Attempts to contact the caller also proved futile as his phone was switched off. Finally, after nothing was found, the call was declared a hoax.

On Thursday, Singh was arrested from Shahjahanpur. The agricultural labourer working in Punjab said he was only trying to kill boredom while at home. “It was surprising when Singh revealed he made the call just for fun,” said sub-inspector Rahul Sonker of Hazratganj police station. “The man is illiterate and never believed he would be caught.” Sonker said the call put the entire police force on alert. “A bomb disposal squad and an anti-sabotage team were immediately sent to sanitise the Vidhan Bhawan. We combed the place for around two hours but nothing suspicious was found. Moreover, the caller’s phone was found switched off.”

He said sub-inspector Subash Singh then lodged an FIR under section 507 of the Indian Penal Code (for criminal intimidation through phone) and a probe was initiated. “The caller was tracked using electronic surveillance.”

Police officials said these “for fun” hoax calls were becoming a matter of worry for them.