The Mumbai Police’s numerous helplines and control rooms received 31 bomb-scare-related calls in the past seven months but every one of them turned out to either be a hoax or unfounded. The authorities also received a hoax suicide call in the same period. Seventeen people have been arrested in connection with the hoax calls. According to the police, mental illness and drunkenness are the root causes of the hoaxes.

On an average, the main control room receives bomb or other security threat-related calls five to six times a month. “The Mumbai Police’s helpline numbers receive a lot of phone calls and we try to solve citizen’s issues. Whenever we get a call, within 5-6 minutes, our team reaches the spot. Threat calls are taken seriously. I urge people to refrain from making hoax calls,” said Balsing Rajput, DCP, detection.