Man makes hoax call of bomb on train

PSCA claims 90% calls made to 15 helpline are fake

LAHORE:

A suspect who made a hoax call of bomb in a Lahore-Kasur train was arrested on Tuesday.

Police said suspect Waseem had made a hoax call of presence of bomb in Farid Express.

He, on 15 helpline, had said that there was a bomb in last coach of the train that had just approached from Lahore at Kanganpur, Kasur.

This hoax call spread panic among police and other law enforcement agencies.

A case under Telegraph Act has also been registered against the suspect and train was stopped in Kasur at night for search. However, no bomb or explosive material was found after thorough search by canine and the bomb disposable squad.

Meanwhile, another police team when reached Kanganpur station master, they came to know that Farid Express would not come to Kanganpur at night. However, a train would approach in the morning.

Another police team searched for the caller's identity. The caller turned out to be of a man working in Raiwind. However the phone or the SIM was not in his use.

Based on further investigations, suspect Waseem who had made the call has been arrested. The phone and SIM for making the hoax call has also been recovered.

Quoting a data analysis, Punjab Safe City Authority claimed that 90% calls made to 15 helpline are fake.

Published in The Express Tribune, December 22^nd, 2021.