- Tuesday, February 25, 2025
The authorities assured the panic-stricken parents and vowed to take steps against those responsible for it.
By: Shubham Ghosh
PANIC prevailed in the south Indian city of Bengaluru on Friday (1) morning when 44 schools received bomb threats through email, police said. It claimed that explosives had been kept on the institutes’ premises. The schools were evacuated immediately.
Police were immediately alerted and officers, along with bomb disposal squads, were deployed at the schools that received the threats. They are located in areas such as Whitefield, Kotamangla, Panathur, Yelahanka, Sadashivnagar, and others.
G Parmeshwar, home minister of the state of Karnataka of which Bengaluru is the capital, said they were verifying the source of the email. He said the administration was taking the matter seriously and the police were asked to handle the issue on priority.
#WATCH | Karnataka: Bomb squad and dog squad inspect a school in Anekal after several schools in Bengaluru received threat calls pic.twitter.com/qvridib43N
— ANI (@ANI) December 1, 2023
The city’s police commissioner, B Dayananda said while the calls appeared to be a hoax, they were not taking any chances and making every effort to trace those responsible for it.
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. pic.twitter.com/QqBaSuJ11W
— CP Bengaluru ಪೊಲೀಸ್ ಆಯುಕ್ತ ಬೆಂಗಳೂರು (@CPBlr) December 1, 2023
The schools sent advisories to parents to pick their students early, keeping in mind their safety.
Karnataka chief minister Siddaramaiah urged the guardian community not to panic saying precautionary measures have been implemented.
“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.
Siddaramaiah’s deputy DK Shivakumar said he was dismayed to see the news on television. He checked the mail with the police and assured them that there was nothing to worry about. One of the schools that received the threat is located near his residence.
One of the schools that received the bomb threat is located near Karnataka Deputy Chief Minister DK Shivakumar’s residence.
Karnataka school education and literacy minister Madhu Bangarappa said those responsible for the bomb threats will be identified and punished.
He said some mischief-maker might have done it and said they would be caught within 24 hours. He said the cybercrime police were looking into the matter and asked all not to neglect cybersecurity measures.
Last year, seven schools in the city received similar bomb threats but it turned out to be a hoax, police said.
