Bomb hoax creates panic

Darpan Singh, Agra

An anonymous phone call threatening to blow up the house of Gul Chaman Sherwani, a controversial Muslim Youth who earned the wrath of zealots of his community for supporting the Vande Matram cause in 2006, at Azampada under Shahganj police station of Agra, besides his in-laws place and the statue of Bharat Mata at Diwan-e-Chauraha under Hari Parvat police station at 3 pm on Tuesday caused widespread panic and chaos in the city. Sherwani had carried out his campaign near the statue.

Following the call, made to the City SP office at 1.10 pm on Tuesday, police officials sweated it out and security in and around the Taj Mahal was heightened. Movement of people and vehicular traffic to and from the monument were stopped and nearby markets closed. Local people and tourists had a harried time because of the threat as police officials with bomb disposal squads and sniffer dogs ran about and searched every possible place.

All railway stations, bus stands and police stations were put on alert. A massive check was conducted and a large number of vehicles were searched. Officials heaved a sigh of relief when nothing was found and the deadline of the explosion expired.

Incidentally, Gul Chaman Sherwani got into trouble from sections of Muslims here for singing ‘Vande Mataram’ when the nation celebrated the 125th anniversary of the national song in August 2006. A fatwa was also issued against him and his engagement to a girl was annulled.

To protest the action, he went on a hunger strike at the Bharat Mata statue for 10 days demanding justice. Though ostracised by zealots in his community, he got married in April last year with the band playing ‘Vande Mataram’, others dancing to patriotic songs and waving the tricolour, again annoying many. He had been facing threats since then.

A senior police official said, “Police are verifying the call. Though it proved to be false one but we cannot afford to be complacent. We are not taking any chances and have enhanced security at the Taj.” Police sources said the name of Gul Chaman Sherwani had figured as target in earlier threat calls too. Said an official, “We are trying to find out as to who made the call. We are also trying to know why Sherwani’s name is figuring in such calls. The culprits would be arrested soon.”