In a scare of unprecedented scale, panic gripped schools in the national Capital and adjoining Noida after 131 of them received identical bomb threats through emails on Wednesday morning, triggering mass evacuations and massive searches as panicked parents rushed to pick up their children.
The anti-terror unit of the Delhi Police has started investigations into the bomb threat email sent to schools in the Delhi-NCR region, as the initial probe hinted at a deeper conspiracy by a terror group during the Lok Sabha elections.
The schools received the threats on their official email IDs around 4 am. Bomb detection teams, bomb disposal squads and officials of Delhi Fire Service were rushed to schools but nothing suspicious was found. Multiple private schools in Noida, Greater Noida, Ghaziabad and Gurugram also received the bomb threat but local police dismissed them as a hoax.
As panicked parents crowded outside the schools, the Ministry of Home Affairs said the mails appeared to be a hoax. In a statement, the Union Home Ministry officials said, "There is no need to panic. Mails appear to be hoaxes. The Delhi Police and security agencies are taking necessary steps as per protocol."
The schools sent out messages and notices to the concerned parents, informing them to pick up kids at the earliest with kids using buses and vans being sent to their home.
"Dear parent, this is to inform you that due to a message received in the school we are evacuating the children early today in their respective school buses and vans. The parents who pick up their ward from the school should reach the school by 10.30 am. at the school gate," read one such message sent to worried parents.
According to police, the threat was declared a hoax as "nothing objectionable" was found during searches. Bomb threats sent via email to schools in Delhi-NCR originated from Russia, as indicated by the IP address of the email, which was traced back to the domain "mail.ru".
Investigating agencies said it is also possible that culprits may have masked their identity using the dark net. Such mails are often sent from a vpn that helps them mask their real ip address as is the case in these "bomb threat" emails, said the sources.
Special Cell of the Delhi Police has registered an FIR against unknown people under section 120B, 506 of IPC. The investigation will be done by the Counter Intelligence Team Special Cell. The IFSO unit is also trying to find out the origin from where the mail was sent, till now the connection to Russia (IP address) has been revealed.
As per the investigation till now, it seems to be part of a larger conspiracy. The investigating agency is also probing the angle of joint conspiracy between China and ISI, the Delhi Police sources said.
Although the email, said to be sent out by one accused, has been called a hoax, the Delhi Police has stepped up security at all metro and railway stations, bus stands, and markets for precautionary measures. "We have stepped up security at every station. We have also alerted our staff to keep strict vigil on any suspicious activity," Deputy Commissioner of Police (railways) K P S Malhotra said.
As per reports, about eight schools in Southwest Delhi, three in North Delhi, 18 in South Delhi, 21 in West Delhi, one in North East Delhi, 24 in East Delhi, 21 in West Delhi and 16 in Outer Delhi received these threats among others. Delhi Police Public School of Wazirabad, Mother's Marry Senior Secondary School of Mayur Vihar, DPS International of Saket, Sanskriti School of Chanakyapuri, Don Bosco School of CR Park and DAV Public School of Paschim Vihar were some of the prominent schools that received the threat via an email early morning. In the adjoining region of Noida, Delhi Public School received the bomb threat.
According to central intelligence agencies sources, this could be a wakeup call as the entire nation and security forces are engaged in the election process. This comes after Chacha Nehru Hospital in Delhi's Shahdara received a bomb threat via email on Tuesday morning. An email claiming that a bomb had been planted at Chacha Nehru Bal Chikitsalaya in Shahdara caused panic and disruption at the hospital on Tuesday. The email was also sent to at least 50 others, including government departments. On Monday, Raja Bhoj International Airport in Bhopal, Dabolim airport in Goa, Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose International Airport in Kolkata and the Jaipur International Airport received bomb threats.
Lt Governor Vinai Kumar Saxena said that Delhi Police has traced the origin of the bomb threat emails that were sent to multiple schools in Delhi-NCR on Wednesday, and assured that the culprits will be given strict punishment. Officials said the bomb threat appeared to be hoax and said there was no reason to panic. Saxena visited DAV school in Model Town area that also received the bomb threat. The LG said that Delhi Police responded quickly to the bomb scare and began action after cordoning off and searching the premises with bomb disposal teams and dog squads.
A senior security officer said, "A general advisory has been issued in the Delhi Metro network and CISF personnel have been asked to remain extra vigilant," adding that additional police force, along with paramilitary, has been deployed in several parts of Delhi and barricades have been installed at city borders.
Special commissioner of police RP Upadhyay termed the bomb threat emails as a "terror threat" and stated that the counterintelligence unit is investigating the matter.
According to Delhi Fire Service (DFS), at least 97 calls from different schools have been received till 12 noon on Wednesday. They started receiving calls about the bomb threat at 6 am, an officer said. An official said that DFS also received calls even after noon and firefighters are still on the ground. Delhi Fire Services chief Atul Garg said all calls are being attended diligently.
