Following a spate of hoax bomb threats targeting several schools in Delhi-NCR, the Union home ministry underscored the imperative of devising a comprehensive protocol and standard operating procedures (SOP) to address such situations effectively. This directive, issued on Monday, aimed to mitigate the potential for panic and misinformation.The home secretary, in collaboration with the Delhi Police and educational institutions, emphasized the necessity for close coordination to prevent unwarranted alarms stemming from false alarms. Recognizing the importance of proactive measures, the ministry urged schools to bolster security measures, including the installation of CCTV cameras and vigilant monitoring of email communications.A statement released by the ministry highlighted the critical role of coordinated efforts between law enforcement agencies and educational institutions in swiftly responding to potential threats and dispelling misinformation. The Home Secretary asked Delhi Police and schools to have close coordination for an effective response mechanism so that misinformation does not create any unnecessary panic, the release stated. Home Secretary reviews the situation in wake of hoax emails received by some schools in Delhi last week. He stressed the need to prepare detailed protocol and SOPs to handle any such situation in future. (1/3)— Spokesperson, Ministry of Home Affairs (@PIBHomeAffairs) May 6, 2024Furthermore, the meeting convened by the home secretary saw the attendance of key stakeholders, including the chief secretary and Delhi Police commissioner, underscoring the collaborative approach in addressing security concerns within the educational sector.The recent wave of hoax bomb threats elicited widespread concern and disruption across Delhi-NCR, with over 200 schools receiving identical threat emails. The ensuing evacuations and security sweeps prompted a swift mobilization of law enforcement resources, including PCR vehicles and various specialized units. However, subsequent investigations revealed the threats to be unfounded, attributed to a mass hoax.Law enforcement authorities revealed that the perpetrators exploited a virtual private network (VPN) to obfuscate the origin of the threatening emails, utilizing servers abroad to obscure their identities. The investigation revealed a pattern indicative of foreign involvement, with the email sender purportedly utilizing a mailing service affiliated with a Russian company.Echoing the events in Delhi, at least 16 schools in Ahmedabad, Gujarat, were targeted with similar hoax bomb threat emails on Monday. Initial inquiries suggested a resemblance to the modus operandi observed in the Delhi incidents, raising concerns about potential international links to the threats.
