32 Delhi schools get bomb threats

As many as 32 schools in the city received bomb threats on Monday, triggering panic among parents and students. The threats later turned out to be hoaxes, said the Delhi Fire Service (DFS). A majority of the schools were from the Dwarka area.

The Fire Department said they received distress calls from 32 schools between 7:30 am and 12:30 pm.

After getting information, the Delhi Police, along with the bomb disposal squad, reached the spot and conducted a thorough search. The premises of all schools were cordoned off and children and staff were evacuated as a precautionary measure. However nothing suspicious was found, a DFS official said.

In response to the threat, schools suspended classes and sent students home as a precautionary measure.

“Dear parents, we want to inform you that our school received a bomb threat via email earlier on Monday. As a precautionary measure, we have immediately alerted the police. They, along with bomb disposal squad, are on way to investigate. Students will be in the school ground under the supervision of the teachers and administration till the squad completes the search,” a message to parents from a school read.

“We understand this news may be alarming, but please rest assured that we are following all safety protocols and working closely with law enforcement to ensure the security of our students and staff. All assessments scheduled for today stand cancelled,” the message added.

So far, over 70 similar threats have been received by various educational institutions in the national capital this year, with only a single case been solved hitherto.

In one of these cases, the police apprehended a 12-year-old school student who allegedly sent emails to a school and a college affiliated to the University of Delhi. He was later released after counseling.

The use of encrypted networks, including virtual private network (VPN) as well as dark web, by senders is making it difficult for the Delhi Police to probe the source of a similar pattern of emails sent to the educational institutions in the national capital on various occasions.

St Thomas School in Dwarka, Vasant Valley in Vasant Kunj, Richmond Global School in Paschim Vihar, Mother’s International in Hauz Khas, and Sardar Patel Vidyalaya in Lodhi Estate received bomb threat emails last month. These were later declared hoaxes.

Hitting out at the ruling BJP government over the repeated threats, AAP national convener Arvind Kejriwal took to X and wrote: “DPS, Dwarka, along with several other schools in the area, once again received bomb threats on Monday. Delhi schools are repeatedly targeted with such threats, yet not a single culprit has been caught, nor has any action been taken to date. The BJP is unable to manage Delhi or its law and order, and its ‘four-engine’ government has completely failed in the Capital.”