Patna's Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP), Rajeev Mishra, confirmed the arrest and disclosed that Zahid hailed from Khizirchak, a village under the jurisdiction of the Bhagwanpur Police Station in Begusarai district. Zahid, who works as an auto driver, was apprehended from his residence in Bowbazar, Kolkata.
The email in question not only threatened to blow up the Chief Minister's office but also included three mobile numbers, which Zahid claimed belonged to members of the terrorist organization. However, preliminary investigations by the police revealed that Zahid had no real connections with any terrorist groups and had likely fabricated the information to instill fear and possibly frame others.
Following a technical analysis, authorities tracked Zahid's location and identified the device used to send the threatening email. The police have recovered the cellphone from which the email was dispatched. Zahid was arrested and is set to be brought to Patna for further interrogation after obtaining a transit remand.
According to Sanjeev Kumar, the Station House Officer (SHO) of Sachivalaya Police Station, the threat was deemed a hoax designed to scare the Chief Minister. A formal complaint was filed on August 2, leading to an accelerated investigation and Zahid's eventual arrest.
The incident has raised alarms regarding the misuse of digital communication for hoaxes and the subsequent strain on law enforcement resources. Zahid's motive appears to be to frame other individuals, as indicated by the inclusion of multiple contact numbers in the email.
Zahid will face further questioning in Patna, where authorities aim to uncover the full extent of his intentions and any potential accomplices involved in the plot. The case underscores the importance of vigilant monitoring of digital threats and the swift action required to neutralize them.
This arrest comes at a time when security measures across India are heightened due to various threats, and it serves as a reminder of the continuous need for robust cybersecurity and public vigilance.
For more details, sources include Hindustan Times and ETV Bharat.