Manas Dasgupta
NEW DELHI, Dec 1: Bomb squads and sniffer dogs descended on several schools to check as panic gripped the parents after at least 48 private schools in and around Bengaluru received bomb threats on Friday morning.
The city was put on high alert and the Karnataka government said though it appeared like a hoax call the police was not taking any chances and had been told to thoroughly check every nook and corner of the schools having received the threat mails before the schools would resume functioning.
The police said 48 private schools in Bengaluru received bomb threats Friday morning through email. The email claimed that explosives had been planted on school premises.
Police were immediately notified and have been searching the schools for any suspicious objects. Bomb disposal squads have been dispatched to all the schools that received the bomb threat, including ones in Whitefield, Koremangala, Basveshnagar, Yalahanka, and Sadashivanagar.
The students and the staff were immediately evacuated from the premises, the police said, adding that no suspicious objects have been recovered yet. “We are verifying the source of the email. We are taking this seriously. I have informed the police to check this on priority,” Karnataka Home Minister G Parmeshwar said.
“While the calls appear to be a hoax, the police is taking no chances and is making every effort to trace the culprits responsible,” Bengaluru Police Commissioner B Dyanand said. “Certain schools in Bengaluru city have received emails today morning indicating ‘bomb threat’. Anti-sabotage and bomb detection squads have been pressed into service to verify and ascertain. The calls seem to be hoax. Even then all efforts will be made to trace the culprits,” Dyanand wrote on X.
In light of the bomb threat, one of the schools issued an advisory to parents. “We are encountering an unexpected situation at school today. The school has received a security threat from unknown sources. As we hold the safety of our children at utmost priority, we have decided to disperse the students immediately,” the advisory read.
Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah reassured parents on Friday, stating, “Precautionary measures have been implemented, and there’s no need for parents to panic.” “The police will investigate, and I have directed them to do so. Security measures have been taken, and parents need not panic. I have instructed the police to inspect the schools and enhance security. A preliminary report has been received from the police department,” Mr Siddaramaiah said.
One of the schools that received the bomb threat is located near Karnataka Deputy Chief Minister DK Shivakumar’s residence. Both he and the Leader of Opposition R. Ashok visited some of the schools which had received the bomb threats.
“I was dismayed after seeing the news on TV, as some schools I know, including the one near my house, were mentioned. I went out to check and was shown the mail by the police. Prima facie, it appears to be a hoax. I spoke to the police, and they are currently investigating the matter. We should be cautious, but there is no need to worry. Parents are understandably concerned, but the police are handling the situation,” Mr Shivakumar said.
“Some mischief-makers might have done this. We will apprehend them within 24 hours. The cybercrime police are actively investigating the matter and are doing their job diligently. In the meantime, we should exercise caution and not neglect our cybersecurity measures,” he added.
The City Police Commissioner said: “Earlier, similar threat letters and emails had come to schools and they were found to be a hoax for mischief and police had identified those behind it. The police are verifying today’s mails too… officials and personnel have gone to all the spots. I appeal to people not to worry, as most likely all these are hoax calls,” he said. Last year, seven schools in Bengaluru received similar bomb threats but it turned out to be a hoax, police said.
“We received a call from the command centre and immediately rushed our teams to schools which are located in different parts of the city. All students and staff have been safely evacuated from the school premises and a thorough search operation is being carried out,” a senior police officer said.
So far, nothing suspicious has been found yet and prima facie looks like it’s a hoax message, he added.
Meanwhile, many schools which did not receive any threat mails have also sent children back home due to pressure from anxious parents.