New Delhi: Several schools and colleges in the capital have been on alert for the past three days after receiving bomb threat emails. Delhi Police said at least ten such emails were sent to nine different schools, creating panic among students, parents, and staff, reported ecnomic times.
The police believe these emails were sent using encrypted networks and tools that hide the sender’s identity. Experts from the cybercrime unit explained that the threats were routed through Virtual Private Networks (VPNs) and possibly even the dark web, making it very difficult to trace their origin.
“The people behind these threats are using advanced techniques to stay anonymous,” ET reported a senior officer as saying. “Every time we find a clue, it disappears behind another layer of security.”
Though similar threats in the past have turned out to be hoaxes, the police are not taking any chances. Investigators are treating the case seriously, especially since a real explosion had occurred outside a CRPF school in Prashant Vihar last October, though no one was hurt. In January this year, a Class 12 student was arrested for allegedly sending bomb threats to over 400 schools.
Following earlier incidents, the Directorate of Education issued a 115-point guideline in May to help schools respond to bomb threats. Schools are now checking bags more carefully, limiting outsider entry, and staying in close contact with the local police.
At St. Thomas School in Dwarka, which received two threat emails in under 24 hours, parents expressed concern. Rakesh Arora, whose daughter studies there, said, “Even if it’s a hoax, it’s still scary. Our children’s safety is our top concern.”
Varun Kumar, whose child is in kindergarten, shared a similar worry: “This has happened before, and it keeps happening. It’s upsetting and disruptive. We just want the police to find who’s behind it.”
Police say each email follows a similar pattern—vague but threatening language, sent early in the morning, and routed through international servers. They are now working with multiple agencies to investigate and are reviewing past cases to understand how previous culprits were tracked.
A senior officer said they are also looking into all possible angles, including political links. In one earlier case, the accused student’s father was reportedly linked to an NGO that had shown support for a controversial figure.
Meanwhile, police are urging the public to remain calm and report any suspicious activity. They are also holding awareness sessions in schools to guide teachers and staff on how to handle such threats and preserve important evidence.
“We understand the fear and anxiety,” said a cyber expert. “But we are doing everything we can to get to the bottom of this.”
