Kolkata Police, which is probing the death of the undergraduate student, has pieced together the chain of events at the JU Main Hostel on the night of August 9, minutes before the 17-year-old fell from the second-floor balcony of the four-storeyed hostel building, leading to his death.
SFI and other Left student organisation supporters in a scuffle with police during the protest against the death of a Jadavpur University student, in Kolkata. (ANI/File)
It was a two-hour ordeal for the 17-year-old student of Jadavpur University on the night of August 9 as he ran from one room to another in the hostel building, naked, according to the police.
Kolkata Police, which is probing the death of the undergraduate student, has pieced together the chain of events at the JU Main Hostel on the night of August 9, minutes before the 17-year-old fell from the second-floor balcony of the four-storeyed hostel building, leading to his death.
According to the investigators, who say they have evidence of ragging against the 12 accused arrested so far, the 17-year-old student was “disrobed, bullied and abused with homosexual slurs”.
The Ministry of Sustainability and the Environment (MSE) separately confirmed its statutory boards received a bomb threat related to the Environment Building at Scotts Road.
Singapore’s Environment Building at 40 Scotts Road, pictured on Aug 23, 2023 after an “emergency situation” that led to a “building lockdown”. (Photo: CNA/Jeremy Long)
Police were alerted to alleged bomb threats at 18 locations around Singapore on Wednesday morning (Aug 23), including government buildings, embassies and other places of interest.
Security checks were conducted and no items of security concern were found, said the Singapore Police Force (SPF), adding that it was alerted to the case at about 9.10am.
SPF did not provide further details of the threats or where the 18 locations are, but the Ministry of Sustainability and the Environment (MSE) separately confirmed that there was a bomb threat related to the Environment Building.
The police also said they are aware of similar reports of email bomb threats in South Korea recently – seemingly sent by the same person – which turned out to be a hoax.
“The police are investigating this case of communicating false information of a harmful thing under Section 268A of the Penal Code 1871,” SPF added. The offence carries a jail term of up to seven years, a maximum fine of S$50,000 (US$36,800), or both.
“The police take all security threats seriously and will not hesitate to take action against those who intentionally communicate false information on bomb threats.”
Yonhap news agency reported on Aug 17 that South Korean authorities were looking into a series of bomb threats made via email in recent weeks. No explosives linked to the threats have been found.
Five such emails, which identified targets like schools and government offices, appeared to have been sent from Japan and are suspected of being related to phishing scams, the report said.
A recent email, sent in the name of a Japanese law firm, claimed that “high-powered bombs with needles” had been planted at the Japanese embassy, the Supreme Court and city halls across the country, said the report.
“SECURITY SITUATION”
News of a potential situation at the Environment Building at 40 Scotts Road emerged at around 9am when multiple sources told CNA that people were allowed to leave but not enter.
The building houses MSE and its statutory boards the National Environment Agency (NEA) and water agency PUB.
An email sent to employees at about 10am said there was an “emergency situation” and that the building was “under lockdown” but people could leave if they wanted to.
Minister for Sustainability and the Environment Grace Fu later wrote on Facebook that she was informed of a “security situation” but that no threat items were found following preliminary checks by the police and security officers.
A sign next to ground floor turnstiles at Singapore’s Environment Building at 40 Scotts Road, informing workers of an “emergency situation” and “building lockdown” on Aug 23, 2023. (Photo: CNA/Jeremy Long)
The ministry said on Wednesday night, in response to CNA’s queries, that it has stepped up security and restricted access to the Environment Building.
“The safety of all staff and stakeholders of the Environment Building is our priority,” it added. “MSE will cooperate fully with the Singapore Police Force in police investigations.”
Employees at the Environment Building were informed in an email at about 12.10pm that the building would be closed for the rest of the week.
In the event that similar threats are received at building premises, the police said security officers or auxiliary police officers should conduct a search for suspicious items.
The police in its FIR claimed that they were stopped by the 9th Assam Rifles when they proceeding Pholjang Road along Kwakta as a follow-up action to conduct search operations in an arms act case in search of Kuki militants.
Assam Rifles
Manipur Police has registered an FIR against Assam Rifles for allegedly blocking their vehicle and obstructing them from discharging their duties after an altercation between the two groups last week.
The FIR was filed on August 5 when police alleged that the Assam Rifles blocked police vehicles on the Kwakta Gothol road in the Bishnupur district.
The police in its FIR claimed that they were stopped by the 9th Assam Rifles when they proceeding Pholjang Road along Kwakta as a follow-up action to conduct search operations in an arms act case in search of Kuki militants.
”On reaching the Kutub Wali Masjid located at Kwakla Ward No. 8 along Pholjang road the state police teams including CDO/BPR stopped and blocked their way by the personnel of 9 AR by keeping and parking their Casper Vehicle in the middle of the Kwakla Pholjang road and obstructed in discharging their law bound duty. As such arrogant act of the personnel of 9 AR giving a chance to the accused Kuki militants to escape freely to somewhere a safe zone for them,” the police alleged in their FIR.
