New Delhi, January 10, 2025 - Delhi Police have detained a Class 12 student in connection with a series of bomb threats that have rattled numerous schools across the national capital. The minor, whose identity remains confidential due to legal protections, is accused of sending hoax bomb threat emails on at least six occasions, targeting different schools while strategically excluding his own to avoid suspicion.
The threats sparked widespread panic among students, parents, and school administrations, leading to evacuations and thorough searches by bomb disposal squads, which ultimately found no explosives. The incidents, which unfolded over the past few weeks, have been part of a disturbing trend where schools received threats via email, prompting an immediate response from law enforcement.
The detained student, in a bid to dodge his school exams, concocted this plan to disrupt the educational environment, hoping that the bomb threats would lead to cancellations or postponements of examinations, according to police sources. In one instance, he sent a bomb threat email to as many as 23 schools. His strategy was to always include multiple schools in each email, thereby diluting suspicion from falling directly on him.
Investigations revealed that the boy had been inspired by similar incidents reported in the media, believing he could evade capture as previous perpetrators had not been apprehended. However, diligent police work, including cyber forensics, led to his identification and subsequent detention from South Delhi.
The Delhi Police, through DCP South Ankit Chauhan, confirmed the student's involvement, stating, "During interrogation, he admitted that he had sent threat emails earlier as well." This revelation came after weeks of heightened alertness among educational institutions and law enforcement, with the city experiencing multiple bomb hoaxes not only targeting schools but also hospitals and airlines.
The police have been proactive in response, training teachers and school staff in crisis management through seminars and workshops in collaboration with the Education Department. This follows after former Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal criticized the law and order situation in Delhi, pointing out the frequency of such hoaxes as indicative of a broader security concern.
The case is under further investigation, with the police looking into possible accomplices or influences that might have motivated such actions. The student remains in police custody as they delve deeper into the motives and means behind these threats.
This incident has reignited discussions on school safety, the psychological pressures faced by students, especially around examination periods, and the need for robust cybersecurity measures to prevent such occurrences. Schools in Delhi continue to remain vigilant, with many implementing stricter security protocols and emergency response plans in light of these events.