Delhi School: December, a wave of panic swept through Delhi as over 40 schools received bomb threat emails. The emails, sent late Sunday night, demanded a ransom of $30,000 and threatened to detonate explosives planted within the school premises.
The emails, which were sent from a single account, contained a chilling message:
Delhi School:“I planted multiple bombs inside the building. The bombs are small and hidden very well. It will not cause very much damage to the building, but many people will be injured when the bombs detonate. You all deserve to suffer and lose limbs. If I do not receive 1 USD 30,000, I will detonate the bombs.”
The threat emails were sent to a number of prominent schools in Delhi, including:
- Delhi Public School, RK Puram
- GD Goenka Public School, Paschim Vihar
- The British School, Chanakyapuri
- The Mother’s International School, Aurobindo Marg
- Modern School, Mandi House
- Delhi Public School, Vasant Kunj
- Delhi Police Public School, Safdarjung
- Delhi Public School, East of Kailash
- Salwan Public School
Upon receiving the threats, school authorities immediately alerted the police and fire departments. Students were evacuated from the premises as a precautionary measure, and bomb disposal squads were dispatched to the affected schools to conduct thorough searches.
Despite the extensive searches, no suspicious devices or explosive materials were found at any of the schools. However, the incident caused significant disruption to the academic routine of thousands of students and their parents.
The Delhi Police has launched an investigation into the matter and is working to identify the sender of the threat emails. The Cyber Crime Cell is also involved in the investigation.
This is not the first time that Delhi schools have been targeted by bomb threats. In August 2024, over 100 hospitals and malls in the city received similar threat emails. While all of those threats turned out to be hoaxes, the recent incident has raised concerns about the security of educational institutions in the city.
The Delhi High Court has taken cognizance of the increasing number of bomb threats and has directed the Delhi government and police to develop a Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) for handling such emergencies. The SOP is expected to outline the procedures to be followed by schools, police, and other concerned authorities in the event of a bomb threat.
In the meantime, Delhi schools are taking additional security measures to ensure the safety of their students and staff. These measures include conducting regular security drills, installing CCTV cameras, and hiring security guards.
The incident has also sparked a debate about the adequacy of cyber security measures in India. Experts have pointed out that the increasing use of the internet has made it easier for cybercriminals to target institutions and individuals. They have called for stricter cyber security laws and regulations to protect critical infrastructure and sensitive information.
The bomb threat emails to Delhi schools have caused widespread fear and anxiety among students, parents, and teachers. While no harm was caused in this particular incident, it is a reminder of the need for vigilance and preparedness.
It is important to note that bomb threats are a serious crime, and those who make such threats can face severe legal consequences. The Delhi Police is urging the public to be vigilant and to report any suspicious activity to the authorities.
