Gurugram authorities launched an intense search operation after a private school and Mini Secretariat received bomb threat emails, and law enforcement agencies rushed to the areas of the city.
The threats had sent shock waves through students, parents, government personnel and even local residents, as security personnel rushed to the affected areas to keep public safety secure.
According to police officials, the threatening emails were received during working hours, immediately alerting authorities. The administration evacuated the school and secured the Mini Secretariat as a precautionary measure. Bomb disposal teams, dog teams, forensic experts, and local police teams were all sent to both places.
The school management quickly put students and staff members in safe places and notified parents. A number of anxious parents gathered outside the school for the search operation.
At the Mini Secretariat, government offices were temporarily cleared as security teams searched every part of the building. All standard operating procedures for bomb threats were followed to minimize any potential risk, officials said.
Police sources said preliminary investigations indicated the threats might have been sent via email, and cyber experts are trying to trace their origin. Investigators are analyzing email headers, digital footprints and other tools to track the culprits, they said. No hoax was ruled out, but it was said that all the threats were real until proven otherwise.
After hours of extensive searches, no suspicious object or explosive material was found at either location at the time of reporting. The search would continue until all areas had been thoroughly searched and declared safe, officials said.
Bomb threat emails targeting schools, airports, courts and government offices have become increasingly common in India in recent years. Most of these threats are hoaxes but they disrupt public services, create fear among citizens and require huge security resources.
Law enforcement agencies have repeatedly warned that individuals responsible for such threats will be severely punished under the Indian Penal Code and Information Technology Act.
Cybercrime investigators are working with email service providers and technical experts to trace the sender’s identity, officials said. But even if there are anonymous email services, digital forensic technologies can often help investigators find important leads.
The Gurugram Police asked residents to not panic and to only have faith in official updates. Citizens should report any suspicious activity right away, they said, instead of spreading rumours on the internet.
That said, security is on the increase around educational institutions and government buildings in the city and there is no doubt that everybody is aware that everything is being done to keep the city safe and anyone responsible for issuing the threats will be heavily punished.
