Kochi: An SMS warning about explosions at
five places in the city, including two railway stations,
turned out to be hoax after searches in all the areas failed
to yield anything, police said on Sunday.
Extensive searches were carried out in all these places
by a bomb disposal squad, aided by sniffer dogs, but they did
not find anything, a top police official said.
He said police had traced the origin of the SMS and found
that three college students had sent it, "but without any
ulterior motive". The trio, on being questioned, said they had
sent the SMS just to warn people, he said.
The SMS said bombs would explode at five places -- Oberon
Mall in the outskirts of the city, Ernakulam South and North
railway stations, Greater Cochin Development Authority office
and another mall at Menaka in the heart of the city -- before
March 16.
The message was received by an officer, who passed it on
to the police official. Earlier reports had said police were
alerted by a journalist, who was informed of the threat by a
woman who received the SMS.
Kochi and surrounding areas have been put on high alert
and security increased in important areas and installations
after an intelligence input of a LeT threat.
PTI
First Published: Sunday, March 14, 2010, 21:49