Patna, July 3: A hoax call warning a bomb blast at the Biscomaun Tower in the state capital sent police into a tizzy today.

An extensive search operation, led by city superintendent of police (SP) Shivdeep Lande, was carried out in the building after an anonymous caller, claiming to be an ISI agent, rang up the police control room around 12.30pm.

The police claimed to have arrested the caller, identified as Ravi Prakash, from the Araria-Gaya border. Prakash is being brought to the state capital for interrogation, the police said.

The 17-storey Biscomaun Tower is located in the heart of the city, west of the historic Gandhi Maidan. The police team, comprising personnel from Gandhi Maidan and Pirbhore police stations, searched the building for at least 45 minutes.

“The district control room received a call threatening to blow up the building in less than an hour. The police conducted a stringent check in and around the area for safety purpose. A sniffer dog was used to scan the building,” the SP said.

The sniffer dog was made to check all the vehicles, especially those lying unattended, in and around building.

“Several floors of the building are unoccupied. Moreover, the building is not very well maintained. Though it was a hoax call and nothing was recovered, a check was necessary. Some people, who work in the building, have been rounded up for questioning,” a police officer said.

“I work for a telecom company whose office is in this building. I had come downstairs for tea when the policemen asked me to sit in their vehicle. I haven’t done anything wrong. I don’t even know what is going on here. The police caught me without any reason,” said a person seated in the police vehicle while the search was on.

The motive of the caller was not clear, the police said, adding that he would be interrogated in the state capital. “The man had called the district control room from his mobile and the police arrested him based on the tower location. It could be a prank. He will be asked about the same,” a police officer said.

The police search created a flutter among the people in the area, especially those visiting the revolving restaurant on the top floor of the building.