New Delhi: Delhi Public School (DPS) in Dwarka received a bomb threat on December 20, prompting the authorities to shift classes online and evacuate the premises. This incident marks the sixth bomb threat in Delhi in just ten days. The school notified the fire department at 5:15 A.M., leading to the deployment of police, fire teams, and bomb squad units.
This threat follows similar incidents earlier in the week, including bomb threats at Indian Public School in South Delhi and Crescent Public School in North West Delhi, which caused widespread alarm. Last Friday, six schools, including Bhatnagar Public School and Cambridge School, received threatening emails warning of imminent bomb blasts during school events, with the emails claiming to be from a “dark web group” and detailing how the bombs were supposedly placed for maximum impact while minimizing structural damage.
Authorities confirmed that previous threats, including one on December 9 targeting schools in RK Puram and Paschim Vihar, were hoaxes. Nevertheless, the safety of students, parents, and staff remains a priority, leading to significant disruptions as schools were searched and students sent home. On December 11, over 40 schools in Delhi received ransom demands, but no explosives were found.
In response to the ongoing hoaxes, the Delhi High Court has mandated the Delhi government and police to develop a comprehensive Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) for handling such threats, with a detailed action plan due by January 2024 to ensure effective responses to future incidents.