Bengaluru – Panic gripped parents, students, and staff on Friday morning as over 40 private schools across Bengaluru received bomb threat emails, triggering a swift response from police and bomb squads. The emails claimed that explosives had been planted in classrooms, leading to evacuations and intensive search operations.

Schools in Rajarajeshwari Nagar, Kengeri, and various areas of Central and East Bengaluru were among those targeted. The threats were later declared hoaxes following thorough campus sweeps by bomb detection and dog squads.

Some affected institutions include:

  • MS Dhoni Global School

  • Bishop Cotton Boys’ and Girls’ Schools

  • The International School Bangalore (TISB)

  • DPS Bangalore South

  • GEAR Innovative School, and several others.

    • The sender, using the alias “Roadkill”, sent disturbing emails referencing TNT explosives, suicidal ideation, and rage against the mental health system, saying, “Not a single soul will survive… I truly hate my life, I will commit suicide after the news kick in.”

    The email reportedly included grievances against psychiatric care, alleging medication side effects, lack of support, and emotional neglect, adding to the psychological complexity behind the threats.

    Chief Minister Siddaramaiah, addressing the issue from Mysuru, condemned the act and announced that the government is planning legislation to penalize those who spread misinformation and cause public fear.

    The Cybercrime Police Station, under the guidance of the Deputy Commissioner of Police (Central Cyber Division), has taken charge of the investigation. Authorities suspect the emails were sent via VPNs or dark web channels to mask their origin—similar to recent incidents in Delhi, where 28 schools received identical threats.

    This is not the first such scare. In December 2023, nearly 70 Bengaluru schools received similar hoax threats. As per Karnataka Home Department data, 169 hoax bomb threat cases have been registered in the past three years, with 133 in Bengaluru alone. Ten individuals have been arrested for such offenses.

    Police urge the public to remain alert but calm as they continue to trace the origins of the threat and ensure safety across educational institutions.