Delhi Police informants disclosed on Wednesday that every menacing electronic mails dispatched to approximately 100 educational institutions within the metropolis and surrounding vicinities emanated from a singular electronic mail identifier. Investigative authorities speculate the electronic mail’s source to be a server domiciled in Russia.
“The team engaged in investigation diligently traces the Internet Protocol addresses of dispatched correspondence. Vigorous examinations are underway within educational establishments. Delhi Public School, Dwarka, received a bomb scare through electronic mail. A unit trained in bomb disposal is stationed at the premises. Hitherto, no dubious articles have been uncovered,” informants elaborated.
They supplemented that the correspondence was transmitted on Tuesday. “The communication lacks a specified date and encompasses Blind Carbon Copy (BCC), indicative of dissemination to multiple recipients,” they appended.
According to high-ranking police personnel, the quantity of bomb threats might surpass current estimates, a matter under scrutiny.
Police informants also disclosed that on Tuesday, intelligence surfaced regarding a bomb within Chacha Nehru Children’s Hospital, Geeta Colony, yet no explosive device was discovered.
Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCP) for Dwarka, Ankit Singh, affirmed ongoing inspections across all classes and premises, with the complete evacuation of the school underway.
“Numerous police units are validating the correspondence directed to the administrative body of DPS. Through IP tracking and technological surveillance, the originators of the correspondence are being identified,” police sources appended.
East Delhi’s DCP, Apoorva Gupta, stated, ‘Upon receiving intelligence, our units promptly responded, and students were safely escorted home. Thorough screening is being conducted in collaboration with bomb disposal experts.” Another institution targeted was Delhi Convent School, situated in Shalimar Garden, Ghaziabad.
GautamBuddha Nagar’s District Magistrate clarified that the school bomb threat constituted a falsified alarm.
“Investigations conducted by security agencies revealed the incident to be unfounded. Nonetheless, precautionary measures were enforced to safeguard student welfare,” remarked Manish Kumar Verma. A single institution in GautamBuddha Nagar underwent thorough scrutiny, dispelling any threats, Verma affirmed.
Meanwhile, the Home Ministry, governmental authorities, and cyber security specialists dismissed the school “bomb threat” as a hoax aimed at instilling fear among the populace.
In conversation, Rajesh Pant, former National Cyber Security Coordinator, labeled the episode as a fear-inducing hoax. “Similar incidents occurred in the past, also debunked as hoaxes. Today’s incident falls into the same category,” Pant asserted.
Reflecting on the multitude of educational institutions targeted, Pant speculated miscreants sought to incite widespread panic, particularly during the General Election period.
Emphasizing the recurrent nature of such malicious deeds, Pant recalled the insecurity experienced by Northeastern residents in Bengaluru in 2012, triggering mass exodus from the region.
The commission of hoax calls carries legal repercussions.
Such mischief is a recurring phenomenon, extending beyond educational institutions to aviation and railway sectors. However, it constitutes a punishable offense. Law enforcement and security agencies possess advanced technologies to identify perpetrators, ensuring swift apprehension, Pant assured.
The severity of punishment varies depending on the gravity of the offense. While not all prank calls warrant legal action, the severity of consequences aligns with the severity of the offense, explained senior Supreme Court lawyer Satya Prakash Singh.
