Terror Call About Train Attacks in 8 South Indian States

Story:

A lorry driver called Police control room in Bangalore and warned about possible Terror attacks in 8 South Indian States.

Image of Fax Message on Terror Call about Train Attacks in 8 South Indian States — Fax Message on Terror Call about Train Attacks in 8 South Indian States

Analysis:

A Fax letter doing rounds on social media mentions a Terror Call from a Lorry driver warning about possible Train attacks in 8 South Indian States. The Fax message is from Karnataka DG-IGP to DGs and other officials in other states mentioned by the lorry driver. So, let us examine the details, authenticity and aftermath of the terror call incident.

Terror Call About Train Attacks

In the evening of 26th April 2019, a man who introduced himself as lorry driver Swamy Sundar Murthy called Police control room in Bangalore. He claimed to alert Karnataka Police and others saying Terrorist attacks are going to take place in trains at major cities in South Indian states. The caller mentioned threats in Kerala, Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh, Goa, Puducherry, Maharashtra and Telangana. He also claimed there are 19 terrorists at Ramanathapuram in Tamil Nadu, who would be dispatched to the targeted cities. Following the series of terror attacks in Sri Lanka, the terror call caused panic initially among the city police.

Considering the call and the backdrop of bomb blasts in Sri Lanka, Karnataka DG-IGP Neelmani N Raju flashed out a fax message to DGs in other states, also alerting Intelligence Bureau and ADGP Railway. However, after investigations into the terror call Karnataka police stated the terror attack threat in eight south Indian states is fake. Karnataka Central Crime Branch officials tracked the caller in Avalahalli, Bangalore and arrested him for making hoax call.

Karnataka DG-IGP writes to DGs of Tami Nadu, Kerala, Andhra, Telangana, Puducherry, Goa, Maharashtra following a phone call by a man 'claiming to have info that cities in Tamil Nadu, K'taka, Kerala, Andhra, Telangana, Puducherry, Goa, Maharashtra will be hit by terror attacks'. pic.twitter.com/BcvXBHVX2y
— ANI (@ANI) April 26, 2019

Reportedly, the caller told the police he often gets visions about incidents happening in future while meditating. He felt it was his duty to alert the police. He also told police India is not cautious enough after Sri Lanka bomb blasts, which is why he alerted everyone. The 65-year-old lorry driver, Swamy Sundar Murthy is a retired army personnel. His son died in the Kargil war. Notably, officials said he was arrested in the past also for sending similar fake messages.

Security Tightened

A senior police officer in Bangalore said they are already on high alert post the terror attacks in Sri Lanka. Officials tightened the security along the coast of Andhra Pradesh also. Meanwhile, there’s continued vigilance at major public places in the South Indian states.