Three held for sending SMS alert in Kochi

Kochi, March 14: Three college students were arrested Sunday for circulating an SMS asking friends and relatives to be careful while venturing out in the city, police said.

"There have been newspaper reports about an intelligence alert to be maintained in the city here and these youths said that they just sent an SMS to their friends and relatives to be careful about a possible bomb blast. So far, our inquiries have revealed that they did not have any other intention. No case will be registered against them," Kochi Police Commissioner Manoj Abraham told IANS.

For the past two days following a directive from the central government, a high alert is being maintained at Kochi with additional commando force put on duty at important central government establishments in the city.

The bomb squad Sunday arrived at a few places here to make sure that all is well and after the customary search operation they returned with nothing untoward being detected.