The recent bomb scare at the BITS Pilani campus in Sancoale which turned out to be a hoax has reportedly been yet another instance in a long list of false bomb threats to have rattled Mormugao taluka over the past few years. Although historical evidence shows the vast majority of bomb threats are false, all received bomb warnings must be considered real and the authorities must be ready to manage such situations for the protection of human life and property. Section 505 of IPC addresses statements leading to public mischief. A person making a fake bomb threat that causes fear or chaos can be charged under this section and face up to 3 years of imprisonment, a fine, or both. Bomb threats are serious until proven otherwise. In India the law takes a tough stance against those attempting to incite chaos or panic. The government reportedly plans to take legislative actions to deal with instances of bomb threats to the airlines, including placing the perpetrators in the no-fly list. If a bomb threat is serious enough to be deemed an act of terrorism, it can lead to much harsher penalties.
