In a bizarre turn of events, a local resident’s annoyance with an unattended SUV in front of his shop led to a bomb hoax and terror threat that sent shockwaves through Pathankot. The Punjab Police arrested Nitin Mahajan, 36, on charges of vandalism and creating public panic.
The incident came to light on the morning of July 20 when the police received reports of an abandoned SUV with shattered windows on Daki Road in Pathankot’s Balaji Nagar. Handwritten leaflets, scattered around the vehicle, contained alarming threats of bomb blasts at government offices and schools within the next five days. The notes claimed that 100 men had infiltrated India, with 30 of them already in Pathankot, and concluded with “Pakistan Zindabad”.
Sharing details, Pathankot Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Suhail Qasim Mir said that the messages caused immediate panic in the area, prompting a swift and thorough investigation. “The leaflets also bore slogans like ‘Pakistan Zindabad’, which escalated the urgency of the situation,” he said.
During the investigation, Nitin Mahajan, who initially reported the suspicious activity, claimed that he heard noises outside his house around 4:30 am. From his balcony, he purportedly saw four individuals breaking the SUV’s windows and scattering leaflets.
Given the sensitive nature of the threats, the police launched an extensive inquiry. However, discrepancies in Nitin’s account led investigators to scrutinize his involvement. It was soon discovered that Nitin himself had broken the SUV’s windows and planted the threatening notes. His motive? To get the SUV towed away by the police.
The SUV belonged to one Suresh Kumar, who had left it parked in front of Nitin’s grocery shop for over two months. Frustrated by the obstruction and lack of action, Nitin decided to take matters into his own hands. By creating a sensational terror threat, he hoped the police would swiftly remove the vehicle.
“Nitin Mahajan admitted to orchestrating the incident out of sheer frustration,” SSP Mir confirmed, adding, “He thought the only way to get the car removed was to fabricate a threat that would guarantee immediate police action.”
This incident is particularly concerning given Pathankot's proximity to the volatile Jammu and Kashmir region. Last month, the district was on high alert after reports of suspicious individuals, and just weeks ago, two foreign terrorists were killed in a gunfight in nearby Kathua.
An FIR has been registered against Nitin Mahajan, who now faces charges under various sections of the Indian Penal Code, including those related to public mischief and creating false alarm. His actions not only disrupted the community but also diverted valuable police resources away from genuine security concerns.
