Mumbai (International Desk): In a dramatic turn of events, Indian authorities revealed that a recent terror scare in Mumbai was nothing more than a fabricated hoax. On September 5, Mumbai Police received a chilling WhatsApp message warning of a large-scale terrorist attack allegedly orchestrated by militants who had infiltrated from Pakistan. However, after swift investigation, police confirmed that the threat was false and traced it back to a personal feud between two individuals.
The Threat Message
According to Indian media reports, Mumbai Police were alerted when a WhatsApp message claimed that 14 terrorists belonging to a fictitious group called “Lashkar Jihadi” had entered the city. The message further alleged that the terrorists had packed 34 vehicles with 400 kilograms of RDX explosives and were planning to unleash a devastating series of blasts across Mumbai.
The purported attack, the sender claimed, could kill as many as 10 million people, a number that raised immediate alarms and prompted an urgent security review. Given Mumbai’s tragic history with terror attacks, including the 2008 carnage, authorities treated the threat with utmost seriousness until evidence pointed otherwise.
Investigation Unveils the Truth
After initiating a technical probe, Mumbai Police discovered that the threatening message did not originate from any terror outfit but rather from an individual with a personal vendetta. The culprit, Ashwin Kumar Supra, a resident of Bihar, had fabricated the threat as part of a plot to frame his acquaintance, Firoz.
Investigators learned that Firoz had previously filed a legal case against Ashwin in 2023, which resulted in Ashwin spending three months in jail. Seeking revenge, Ashwin attempted to falsely implicate Firoz in a fabricated terror conspiracy, using WhatsApp as a medium to spread panic.
Arrest and Seizure
Police swiftly tracked the phone number used to send the threatening message. Ashwin Kumar was arrested, and authorities seized his mobile phone and SIM card, which were allegedly used in the crime. Officials confirmed that the entire narrative of terrorists entering Mumbai was a baseless hoax designed to settle personal scores.
Reaction from Authorities
The incident triggered widespread concern, particularly because the message linked the threat to Pakistan. Indian security agencies were quick to point out that such false claims not only waste critical resources but also strain bilateral relations unnecessarily.
Senior Mumbai Police officers assured the public that there was no real terror threat and condemned the misuse of national security concerns for personal vendettas.
“This was nothing more than a false alarm stemming from a personal dispute. Citizens are urged not to spread or believe unverified messages that can cause panic,” one official said.
Broader Implications
The episode has reignited debate in India over the misuse of social media platforms like WhatsApp, where false rumors and fabricated stories often spread rapidly. In a city like Mumbai, which remains a sensitive target due to past terror incidents, even a single hoax can create widespread fear and mobilize massive security responses.
Analysts also noted the political sensitivity of linking such threats to Pakistan. False alarms of this nature risk inflaming tensions between the two nuclear-armed neighbors, which already share a history of mistrust and conflict. Experts urged authorities to crack down on individuals who exploit these vulnerabilities for personal gain.
Lessons from the Incident
Security experts stressed that while law enforcement agencies must treat all threats seriously, there is an urgent need to improve mechanisms for quickly distinguishing between genuine risks and hoaxes. Every diversion of resources to false alarms potentially delays the response to actual threats.
The case also highlights the intersection of personal grievances and national security. In this instance, one man’s vendetta escalated into a city-wide terror scare, forcing police and intelligence agencies to act.
Public Reassurance
Authorities have since reassured Mumbai residents that the city is safe and no terror group has infiltrated from Pakistan as suggested in the hoax. Still, the psychological impact of the false alert has reminded many of the city’s vulnerabilities and the need for continued vigilance.
Conclusion
The Mumbai hoax serves as a cautionary tale about how misinformation and personal vendettas can escalate into national security scares. The arrest of Ashwin Kumar underscores the seriousness with which authorities view such acts, and police have promised strict action against anyone found guilty of spreading panic through false terror alerts.
While the incident ended without harm, it left behind important lessons about the responsibility of individuals in the digital age, the fragility of public trust, and the dangers of exploiting regional tensions for personal revenge.
