A wave of bomb threat emails targeting multiple schools across the national capital on Monday triggered panic among parents, students and school authorities, prompting swift evacuations and heightened security checks. The threats, which also warned of an attack on Parliament later this month, were ultimately found to be hoaxes, but officials said investigations are ongoing amid growing concern over the frequency of such incidents.
According to police sources, at least nine schools in Delhi received threatening emails between 8:30 am and 9:00 am, forcing administrators to evacuate campuses as a precaution. Teams from local police stations, bomb detection and disposal squads, and canine units were immediately deployed to the affected locations.
The schools that received the threats include Loreto Convent in Delhi Cantonment, Venkateshwar Global School and Bal Bharti School in Rohini, Cambridge School campuses in Srinivaspuri and New Friends Colony, The Indian School in Sadiq Nagar, CM Shri School in Rohini, DTEA School in INA, and Manav Sthali School in New Rajinder Nagar.
Police officials said the threatening email contained inflammatory language, including the phrase “Delhi will become Khalistan,” and claimed that an explosion would take place at 1:11 pm on Monday. The message was allegedly signed by a group calling itself the “Khalistan National Army.”
The email also included a separate warning claiming that Parliament would be targeted on February 13 at the same time. Authorities stressed that there was no corroborating intelligence to support the claims, but said all standard security protocols were followed given the sensitivity of the threats.
“School premises were evacuated immediately, and thorough anti-sabotage checks were carried out. No suspicious objects were found at any of the locations,” a senior Delhi Police official said.
Normal operations at most schools resumed later in the day after security agencies cleared the campuses.
Police said preliminary analysis suggests the email was sent around 7:22 am, but investigators are working to trace the sender’s digital footprint, including IP addresses and routing data.
Monday’s incident is the latest in a series of hoax bomb threats that have disrupted schools, courts and public institutions across Delhi and other major cities in recent weeks.
On January 29, at least five schools in Delhi received similar bomb threat emails, which were later declared hoaxes after extensive searches. Those schools included Loreto Convent in Delhi Cantonment, Don Bosco School in Chittaranjan Park, and Carmel Convent campuses in Anand Niketan and Dwarka.
A day earlier, the Dwarka district court complex also received a bomb threat that was subsequently found to be false. In another development on Monday, the Patna Civil Court in Bihar received a bomb threat, leading authorities there to evacuate the premises and initiate security checks.
Officials say the repeated nature of such threats is putting significant strain on emergency services while causing distress to families and educational institutions.
“Each threat has to be treated as real until proven otherwise,” a senior police officer said. “That means evacuations, deployment of bomb squads, and disruption of normal activities — even when the message ultimately turns out to be a hoax.”
Parents, Schools Voice Anxiety
Parents expressed frustration and anxiety over the repeated disruptions, saying the constant alerts were taking an emotional toll on children.
“My child has already been evacuated twice in the last month due to bomb threats. Even if these are hoaxes, the fear is very real,” said a parent whose child studies in one of the affected schools.
School administrators echoed similar concerns, calling for stricter action against those responsible for sending such emails.
“These threats cause panic and disrupt learning. We cooperate fully with the authorities, but the psychological impact on students cannot be ignored,” said a senior school official.
Security and Legal Action
Delhi Police said specialised cybercrime units are leading the investigation to identify the individuals or groups behind the threats. Officials warned that sending hoax bomb threats is a serious criminal offence and those found responsible will face strict legal action.
Under Indian law, making false threats that cause public alarm can attract severe penalties, including imprisonment.
Security around sensitive locations, including Parliament and major public institutions, remains heightened, with agencies maintaining increased vigilance in the days ahead.
A Broader Challenge for Urban Security
Security experts say the rise in hoax threats reflects a broader challenge facing urban policing in the digital age, where anonymous emails and encrypted messaging platforms make it easier to spread fear at minimal cost.
“Even a single threatening email can shut down schools, courts or transport hubs for hours,” a former intelligence official said. “The goal is disruption, not necessarily execution.”
Authorities have urged the public to remain calm while also cooperating with security protocols.
As investigations continue, officials reiterated that there is no immediate threat, but acknowledged that repeated hoaxes underline the need for stronger cyber monitoring and deterrent measures.
For now, Delhi’s schools have reopened, but the sense of unease lingers a reminder that even false alarms can have real consequences in an increasingly connected and anxious urban environment.
