Vadodara: With over 30 schools across Gujarat, including many in Vadodara, receiving fresh emails with bomb threats that were later proved to be a hoax, the Vadodara Parents Association (VPA) urged the police commissioner to hand over the investigation to agencies such as the state crime branch or the National Investigation Agency.In a memorandum submitted on Monday, the association said these recurring threats over the past two or three years had a “severe psychological and operational toll” on students and families, while most alerts turned out to be hoaxes.The parents flagged growing anxiety among children, saying repeated evacuations and security drills left students traumatized and affected their concentration. They pointed out that the latest wave of threats coincided with the annual exams of the Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) and the Gujarat board, as well as national competitive tests.“Frequent evacuations during exams jeopardize academic performance and cause logistical chaos. There is also the risk of stampedes and traffic accidents as panicked parents rush to schools,” the memorandum stated.Arguing that local-level action failed to deter culprits, the association said the use of encrypted and international servers indicated a need for a specialized cyber investigation. It demanded a dedicated school security SOP to minimize panic, special training for staff and a public statement from police to reassure parents and warn mischief-mongers of strict legal consequences.The parents said they were seeking “immediate and visible action” to restore confidence among families.
