Shimla, Jan 27,
Amid heightened security following a bomb hoax email ahead of the Republic Day parade at the Ridge Ground, Shimla Police recovered an unattended suitcase from the venue hours after the celebrations concluded, officials confirmed on Monday.
Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Shimla, Sanjeev Gandhi, said that the suitcase was detected through continuous CCTV surveillance of the hyper-sensitive Ridge Ground area. The Republic Day parade had concluded peacefully without any untoward incident, and the suspicious item came to notice around 5.30 pm—nearly four hours after the event—when the venue had already been cleared of the public.
“The Ridge Ground was under constant CCTV monitoring. Although no complaint was received from any individual regarding the suitcase, our control room detected an idle bag lying unattended on the ground. Given the earlier bomb hoax email, the area was immediately cordoned off and the anti-bomb squad was rushed to the spot as a precautionary measure,” SSP Gandhi said.
Upon verification, the suitcase was later claimed by a group of students, alumni of the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT), who were visiting Shimla as tourists. Police said the bag had been inadvertently left behind due to confusion among the group members, with one of them assuming it was in the possession of another friend.
“All the concerned individuals were summoned to the Sadar Police Station, where they were questioned individually. After verification of their credentials and establishing that the incident was a result of misunderstanding and not malicious intent, they were allowed to leave,” the SSP added.
Emphasising the effectiveness of post-event security protocols, SSP Gandhi said the detection of the unattended suitcase even after the venue was vacated reflected the level of alertness maintained by the district police. “There was no laxity in security. The fact that the suitcase was traced without any external input underlines that surveillance remained active even after the parade concluded,” he said.
The SSP also highlighted the challenges faced by the police amid unprecedented snowfall, which had led to road blockages and difficult conditions across the town. “Despite adverse weather and logistical challenges, Shimla Police ensured strict monitoring of the venue and surrounding areas. Constant vigil helped avert any possible mishap,” he added.
The Republic Day celebrations in Shimla ultimately concluded without incident, with police maintaining heightened alertness throughout the day and beyond.
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