December 9: Delhi Schools Receive Bomb Threat, Students Sent Home

More than 40 schools, including the highly regarded DPS RK Puram and GD Goenka Public School in Paschim Vihar, received bomb threats via email this morning in a shocking incident. The emails threatened to plant bombs in the buildings, which would explode within six hours unless $30,000 was paid to stop it.

A total of 44 schools received the threats, and immediate action was taken by the authorities. Students were sent back home, and the police and fire departments were informed. The first call to the Delhi Fire Department was from GD Goenka School at 6:15 am, followed by another call from DPS RK Puram at 7:06 am.

The fire officials, including the dog squad, bomb detection teams, and local police, conducted a search operation. However, after thorough checks, the Delhi Police declared the threats a hoax, and no suspicious items were found.

The incident has raised doubts about the law and order situation in the national capital. The former Delhi Chief Minister, Arvind Kejriwal, and present Delhi Chief Minister, Atishi, have questioned the BJP-ruled Central Government over the increase in murder cases, ransom calls, firing, and bomb threats in Delhi.

This incident is not an isolated case because, in India, there is a disturbing growth in bomb threats targeting schools and airlines. A report suggests that there are at least 1,143 hoax bomb threats involving domestic airlines from August 2022 to November 13, 2024.

The Delhi High Court had just directed the Delhi government and the police to develop a comprehensive action plan including a detailed Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) for handling bomb threats and related emergencies.

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