On Monday morning, more than 40 private schools across Delhi received bomb threats via email, triggering immediate security measures and evacuations. Among the schools targeted were Delhi Public School in Vasant Kunj and R.K. Puram, G.D. Goenka School in Paschim Vihar, Doon Public School in Paschim Vihar, and Brilliant’s Convent School in Pitampura.
The threats were sent in an email, which claimed that bombs had been planted inside the school buildings. The anonymous sender demanded a ransom of $30,000, warning that the bombs would detonate if their demands were not met. The message also stated that while the bombs were small and well-hidden, they would cause significant injury to people on the premises. The email read: “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.”
In response to the threats, school administrations took swift action, sending students home and asking parents to pick up their children as a precautionary measure. Delhi Fire Services (DFS) teams, along with bomb disposal and dog squads, were deployed to inspect the premises of the targeted schools. As of now, no suspicious objects have been found, but thorough checks are ongoing.
This incident comes in the wake of an earlier directive by the Delhi High Court, which ordered the local government and police to develop a detailed Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) for handling bomb threats and other emergencies. The authorities were given eight weeks to implement this plan, which will ensure better coordination among law enforcement, school management, and municipal authorities during such crises.
The bomb threats have sparked a political debate, with Delhi Chief Minister Atishi criticizing the central government’s failure to maintain security, and former CM Arvind Kejriwal also slamming Union Home Minister Amit Shah for the deteriorating law and order situation in the city.
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