Hoax emails: Centre favours enhanced security, CCTVs in schools

PTI

New Delhi, May 6

Union Home Secretary Ajay Bhalla on Monday reviewed situation in the wake of hoax emails received by some schools in the national capital last week and emphasised the need to enhance security, CCTV cameras and regular monitoring of emails in the schools.

Bhalla also asked the Delhi Police and schools to have close coordination for an effective response mechanism so that misinformation does not create any unnecessary panic.

"The Home Secretary reviews the situation in wake of hoax emails received by some schools in Delhi last week. He stressed the need to prepare detailed protocol and SOPs to handle any such situation in future," a home ministry spokesperson said.

"The Home Secretary also emphasised the need to enhance security, CCTV cameras and regular monitoring of emails in the schools," the spokesperson said.

The meeting was attended by the Delhi Chief Secretary and Delhi Police Commissioner.

On May 1, more than 200 schools in Delhi-NCR received an identical threat e-mail claiming that explosives had been planted on their premises, triggering massive evacuations and searches as panic-stricken parents rushed to pick up their children.

"Nothing objectionable" was found during searches by authorities which later declared it a hoax.

On Monday, on the eve of Lok Sabha election in Ahmedabad, 16 schools received an email threatening bomb blasts, though a police statement said this was a hoax as searches failed to unearth anything suspicious. 

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