The situation created due to the hoax call gave us an opportunity to test our preparedness. Elante Mall has more than 220 shops with a mix of domestic and international brands, besides restaurants. People were seen arguing with security personnel at gate number-1 and 3 as they were eager to know whether it was a prank call, mock drill or actually someone planted a bomb inside the mall. New Delhi: Shoppers at Chandigarh’s Elante Mall were evacuated on Monday after news of a bomb on the premises triggered panic. SSP Nilambri Vijay Jagdale said, “A thorough search was carried out in and around Elante Mall. As the announcement was made to evacuate the mall and people were asked not to enter the mall, chaos was witnessed at phase-1, Industrial Area. At least 210 police personnel were put on the job to check the mall. The Indian Express is now on Telegram. Local police units, anti-sabotage check team along with bomb disposal squad carried out searches in the mall, which was teeming with people on account of Eid holiday, he said. Senior police officials reached the site and appealed to people to stay calm. Click here to join our channel (@indianexpress) and stay updated with the latest headlines. Later, it was confirmed that there was no bomb or any other threat at Elante Mall. He said the police swiftly started evacuating the mall. All field units of Chandigarh Police swung into action. An intensive search operation was started around 1 pm which lasted till 5.30 pm. People, staff members and shoppers cooperated. We told visitors through our private security guards to immediately leave the mall. "Chandigarh Police received a call that a bomb could have been placed in the Elante Mall premises," Deputy Superintendent of Police (East) Dilsher Singh said. We are also trying to trace the person who made the call, the DSP told PTI. Later, it was confirmed that there was no bomb or any other threat at Elante Mall. Police claimed to have identified the caller. However, a thorough search was going on. We did not take any chances and came out along with others. People emptied out within half an hour. "Initially, I thought it was a mock drill by security personnel as Independence Day was near, but soon I realised that something serious had happened. An official with the Elante Mall management said, “As today was Eid, a national holiday, the rush at Elante Mall was greater than witnessed on any other day. We haven't found any explosive in the mall so far. We checked each vehicle with bomb/explosive detection equipment thoroughly.”, In a released statement, the Elante management said, “There was a report of an unclaimed object which turned out to be a bomb hoax at our mall. I along with my family members, who had come to watch a movie, rushed out in panic," said Ajay Kumar, a local resident. As the bomb squad entered the Elante Mall to conduct a search, reports first suggested it was a mock drill by police ahead of the Independence Day. The Chandigarh police evacuated people from the Elante mall on Monday afternoon after they received a call claiming that a bomb may have been planted on the premises, a senior police official said. For all the latest Chandigarh News, download Indian Express App. We did not compel the visitors to take their vehicles out. Later, the mall resumed its operations. Around 250 four-wheelers were parked inside the mall parking lots. A bomb hoax was reported at the Elante Mall on Monday. Besides the mall, the adjoining buildings too were being searched. We are very satisfied with the cooperation from customers, shopkeepers, police and our own security team.”. The call was received at the police control room when all senior officers, including DGP Sanjay Baniwal, DIG Omvir Singh, SSP Nilambri Vijay Jagdale and SP Vinit Kumar, were making preparations for the inauguration of 112 emergency number before August 15 at the police headquarters, Sector 9. At least 210 police personnel were put on the job to check the mall. It was a hoax call in view of the heightened security alert across the country (sic). SSP Nilambri Vijay Jagdale said, “A thorough search was carried out in and around Elante Mall. We have identified this fake caller who used VOIP to place this call.”. Over thousands of people were evacuated from the Elante Mall, which was also put out of bounds for visitors for more than five hours and a half, after a Voice Over Internet Protocol (VOIP) call was received at the police control room claiming that explosives were planted inside the mall spread over 20 acres of land at Industrial Area Phase-1. Bomb threat in Chandigarh's Elante Mall creates panic in city, turns out hoax call The warning led to chaos in the mall and police rushed to the spot and got the entire complex vacated. Police personnel faced tough time to control the people. Sanjeev Gupta, an IT professional working at IT park Manimajra, who came along with his wife to the mall, said, “There was a sudden announcement to leave the mall immediately. SSP Nilambri Vijay Jagdale said the caller was identified and he would be arrested shortly. There was chaos all around the mall.”. However, a thorough search was going on. Chandigarh Police received information that a bomb was about to explode at the popular shopping mall, which was crowded due to Eid. "Chandigarh police's bomb disposal team, anti-sabotage check team, Operations cell, Crime Branch and local police units were carrying out coordinated search of the mall," he said. Authorities have been on high alert across the country ahead of Independence Day and in view of developments related to Jammu and Kashmir. Panic gripped the people and many started rushing out of the premises leading to chaos for a while after mall authorities and police used loudspeakers to ask them to leave the shopping complex. Earlier today, the police control room received a phone call, alleging that a bomb had been planted in the Elante Mall. The search operation has finished and the mall is open to public. "Chandigarh police's bomb disposal team, anti-sabotage check team, Operations cell, Crime Branch and local police units were carrying out coordinated search of the mall," he said. Copyright © 2020 The Indian Express [P] Ltd. 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Police lodged an FIR for giving misleading information against the unknown caller. He said the police swiftly started evacuating the mall. We haven't found any explosive in the mall so far. PM Modi mentions environment, climate change in tweet before his Man vs Wild episode, Motherson Sumi Q1 profit dips 42% to Rs 360.64 crore, revenue up 14%. The Chandigarh police evacuated people from the Elante mall on Monday afternoon after they received a call claiming that a bomb may have been planted on the premises, a senior police official said. All field units of Chandigarh Police swung into action.