Panic gripped parts of Noida on Friday after at least two leading schools in the city received alarming bomb threats through emails. The messages, which claimed explosives had been planted on the school premises, sent shockwaves through the student community, parents, and staff, prompting immediate police intervention.
Police Swift Action and Intensive Searches
Upon receiving information from the school management around 8:30 am, the police swiftly mobilized resources. Teams from the bomb squad and dog squad were rushed to the locations to conduct thorough sweeps of the buildings and grounds. Following instructions from the police commissioner, officers also extended precautionary checks to other major private schools across the district.
Additional Commissioner of Police (Law and Order), Rajiv Narayan Mishra, confirmed the sequence of events. The school authorities had promptly alerted the police after discovering the threatening emails. As news spread, anxious parents flocked to the schools, with many opting to take their children home immediately as a safety measure.
Threats Declared Hoax, Classes Resume
After exhaustive searches, the police declared the threats to be hoaxes. No suspicious items were found on any of the school premises. Once the all-clear was given, normal academic activities resumed for the day. However, the incident left a palpable sense of unease.
Security was significantly tightened around educational institutions as a direct consequence. Police have issued orders to increase patrolling in the vicinity of all schools. All Patrol Response Vehicles (PRVs) have been instructed to remain on high alert. Authorities have appealed to both parents and school administrations to maintain vigilance and report any suspicious activity.
Investigation Points to VPN Use, Public Warned Against Rumours
A dedicated investigative team has been formed to trace the origin of the threatening emails. Preliminary findings suggest that, like similar past incidents, these hoax messages were likely sent using Virtual Private Networks (VPNs) that mask the sender's location with IP addresses from foreign countries. This makes tracking the culprits more challenging.
Police officials have strongly urged the public not to spread or believe in unverified rumours, which can exacerbate fear and confusion. This incident in Noida follows a similar pattern of hoax bomb threats targeting schools in the national capital just a week prior, indicating a worrying trend of using digital means to disrupt public order and cause mass panic.
