Mohali: Barely two weeks after mass bomb-threat emails rattled 30 schools in Chandigarh, Mohali faced a similar scare on Wednesday, with 18 private schools across Mohali, Zirakpur and Kharar receiving identical threat mails. The messages, warning of a “human bomb” attack at 1.16pm, triggered immediate evacuations and sweeping search operations across the district.The emails were received by schools between 7.30 am and 8.00 am.Mohali senior superintendent of police (SSP) Harmandeep Singh Hans said 16 schools in Mohali and one each in Zirakpur and Kharar received the threat emails.The SSP said acting swiftly, police teams led by SPs, DSPs and SHOs rushed to the affected institutions. Anti-sabotage teams and bomb disposal squads were requisitioned from neighbouring districts and Chandigarh headquarters to assist in the operation. “All schools were evacuated and closed for students and staff well before the search operations commenced,” said the SSP.Divulging details in Sector 67, SSP Hans said the checking of all premises was completed within about two-and-a-half hours with the support of additional force and specialised teams. “No explosive material was found at any of the locations,” he said.The search operations were supervised by SP (City) Dilpreet Singh, along with SPs Navneet Singh Mahal, Mohit Aggarwal, Sukhnaz Singh, Ramandeep Singh and Talwinder Singh Gill. DSP City-1 Prithvi Singh Chahal, DSP City-2 Harsimran Singh Bal and all SHOs also monitored the exercise on the ground.The SSP said Mohali police was fully alert and prepared to tackle such threats. An FIR is being lodged, and the matter was referred to the cyber police station, Phase-7, Mohali, to ascertain the origin of the email ID and conduct a detailed forensic investigation.
