Meet Jagdish Uikey, man who sent bomb threats to flight, PMO; Major search op underway

Jagdish Uikey bomb threats investigation: Maharashtra Police are actively searching for Jagdish Uikey, a resident of Gondia, who has been identified as the individual responsible for sending false bomb threats to multiple flights and the Prime Minister's Office (PMO). Uikey remains at large.

What is the case of Jagdish Uikey?

In a significant development, Maharashtra authorities have launched a manhunt for Uikey, a writer from Gondia. His actions prompted widespread security alerts at airports nationwide and led to the diversion and emergency landing of numerous flights. These threats have severely impacted air travel across the country.

What was the nature of the threats?

Sources reveal that Uikey allegedly sent bomb threats via email not only to various Indian airlines but also to key governmental offices, including the PMO, the Union Home Minister’s Office, and the Maharashtra Chief Minister’s Office. Given the gravity of the threats, which included claims of bombing flights, the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) initiated a comprehensive investigation involving police and security agencies, demanding stringent action.

Scale of the threats

In the two weeks leading up to October 26, over 300 flights operated by Indian carriers were targeted with hoax bomb threats, primarily disseminated through social media platforms, according to government reports.

Full fledged search operations underway

Authorities traced the emails linked to the threats back to Uikey, prompting an extensive nationwide search. Despite efforts to locate him at his Gondia residence, he remains elusive. Sources indicate that Uikey has even mocked law enforcement by claiming he cannot be caught.

Multiple teams from the Maharashtra police, along with central agencies, are pursuing various leads to apprehend him. Search operations are concentrated in the Vidarbha region, with additional efforts in Delhi, Madhya Pradesh, and other states.

Allegations of terrorism connections

In addition to threatening airlines, Uikey is also accused of sending bomb threat emails to railway stations and bus terminals. His communications claimed he had secured significant funding for planned explosions, allegedly in coordination with terrorist organizations such as Sikhs for Justice (SFJ) and Jaish-e-Mohammed.

Recent threats and demands

On Monday, security was intensified around the residence of Deputy Chief Minister and Home Minister Devendra Fadnavis following an email from Uikey. In this correspondence, he threatened to stage protests unless granted an audience to discuss a “secret terror code” he claimed to have deciphered. Uikey also expressed a desire to meet with Prime Minister Narendra Modi to convey his supposed knowledge of terror threats, according to officials.