Message threatening to kill one crore people during Ganesh Chaturthi festival; astrologer-vastu consultant arrested 

NOIDA: A 50-year-old man has been arrested for sending a threat message to the police in Mumbai, threatening to kill one crore people during the Ganesh Chaturthi festival. The message was received on the Mumbai Traffic Police's WhatsApp helpline on Thursday. Another person was also arrested for providing a SIM card to the accused for sending the message. He was arrested from Sorakha village.

Mumbai Police received a message that 14 Pakistani terrorists had entered the city in 34 vehicles to carry out the blast. The message also said that the group had arrived with 400 kg of RDX. The Metropolitan Police was busy preparing security arrangements for the last day of the ten-day Ganesh Chaturthi, when the message was received.

The police arrested Ashwinikumar Sureshkumar Supra, a native of Patna, who sent the voice message. He had switched off his mobile phone after sending the message. However, intelligence surveillance was intensified at the local level. Ashwinikumar was then arrested from Noida Sector 79 with the help of CCTV footage obtained from a grocery shop. He was then handed over to the Mumbai Police. It is reported that Ashwinikumar is an astrologer and vastu consultant.

Police had earlier said that the sender mentioned the name of the organisation 'Lashkar-e-Jihadi' in the threat message. Aluthorities said that they are investigating the source of the message with the help of technical analysis although it appears to be fake at first glance.

"Traffic police have received such bomb threat messages in the past as well. There is no need to panic. Security has been beefed up at key locations and checks are underway. Do not believe in rumours and report any suspicious activity," the authorities had asked Mumbai residents.