In the current era of interconnectivity, one keypress can instill fear within communities. In India, where hoax threats of bombs have recently been made against schools, office buildings, and government establishments, such acts do not only reflect an individual’s irresponsibility but also show how thin the line is between harmless curiosity and actual harm.Whether done by children who wish to secure a day away from school or exams or by grown-ups trying to take revenge on someone, extort money, or simply manipulate others, such threats have brought about the evacuation of hundreds, disrupted schedules, and filled the minds of parents, students, staff, and other individuals with worry. The authorities are compelled to react to each email or phone call threatening the presence of a bomb, deploying bomb disposal squads, cybersecurity teams, and security forces in order to deal with each case.
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Twisted ‘love’: 29-year-old sends threat to delay ex’s interviewA 29-year-old law graduate sent a fake bomb threat email to a company in DLF Two Horizon Center on Golf Course Road to delay his former girlfriend’s scheduled interview. Police arrested the accused, originally from Kolkata, who hoped the evacuation would prompt his ex to seek his help and possibly rekindle their relationship.“He believed that if the interview did not take place, she might approach him for help and their relationship could be re-established,” said ACP (DLF) Vikas Kaushik.The email, sent from a newly created and forged account, threatened a bomb blast in the commercial complex on Monday morning. Police, along with the Haryana Disaster Response Force, dog squads, fire brigades, and bomb detection teams, evacuated and checked the building, finding no explosives.
“After a thorough search of the premises, no suspicious object was found. A case was registered under relevant sections, and our cybercrime team began tracing the source of the email,” Kaushik said.The accused attempted to mask his digital footprint, but investigators tracked the IP address and other technical evidence. He was apprehended in Sector 31, Gurgaon, and the devices used in the crime were seized. Police confirmed he had no previous criminal record. Class 5 boy in Vadodara sends bomb threatIn February, an 11-year-old Class 5 student allegedly sent a bomb threat email to Bright School in Harni. The message, received around 5.30pm, demanded holidays, prompting police teams to search the school. No explosives were found.“We became suspicious because the wording of this email was different from the threat mails received by other schools,” said DCP (crime) Himanshukumar Verma.Police traced the email to the boy, who had used his mother’s phone. The mother was unaware of the incident. The child admitted to watching news reports about bomb threats to other schools and decided to create panic to secure a day off. Authorities issued a warning to the boy and his parents.
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“No one should indulge in such acts. Even a prank like this can land them in serious trouble,” the DCP cautioned.Class 9 Student Sends Bomb Threats in NoidaA Class 9 student was detained for allegedly sending hoax bomb threats that led to the evacuation of four schools on Wednesday. The 14-year-old, a Delhi resident, admitted he did it to get a day off.DCP (Noida) Rambadan Singh said: “The student wanted the day off from school and had read online about recent news of bomb threats spreading panic and fear among school authorities. He also watched YouTube videos for three hours and got online tips about accessing VPN to hide his IP address.”The emails, sent to Step by Step School (Sector 132), Gyanshree School (Sector 127), The Heritage School (Sector 128), and Mayoor School (Sector 126), falsely claimed bombs were planted and contained anti-Hindu threats. Police, fire brigades, dog squads, and bomb detection teams rushed to the campuses, which were later declared safe.“The videos that the minor saw on YouTube inspired him to do such a thing. He wanted an off day just for fun,” a police source said.The teenager even sent a picture of the email to a friend, which was reported to his parents. He was produced before a juvenile court and sent to a correctional facility.“Even though the student is a minor, the offence will be considered seriously given the potential consequences. Such offences are not to be taken lightly,” the DCP said.Since May last year, dozens of schools in Delhi, Gurgaon, and Noida have faced similar threats, with previous cases involving students from Class 12 and below.
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West Delhi student tries to cancel exam A 15-year-old student at Vishal Bharti Public School in Paschim Vihar sent a bomb threat email to cancel his assessments and get a holiday. The school received the email in the morning, prompting authorities to activate standard security protocols, including the deployment of the Bomb Disposal Squad, Anti-Sabotage teams, and cyber experts.“He confessed, saying he wanted exams cancelled and a holiday declared,” a senior officer said.The school was searched thoroughly, but no suspicious items were found. Police seized the device used to send the threat and registered a case. In July 2024, a similar incident involved a 12-year-old threatening St. Stephen’s College and St. Thomas School.
Extortion attempt by former professorA 31-year-old former professor of Applied Mathematics, Bachchu Jha, was arrested from Nashik for issuing a bomb threat to extort Rs 21 lakh from a coaching institute in Wazirpur Industrial Area, northwest Delhi. The accused also had alleged links to extortion attempts involving a former MLA in Chhattisgarh and a lawyer in Bihar.Police said Jha called the institute claiming to be “Babla Gurjar from Noida” and threatened a bomb blast if money was not paid. Investigators traced the digital footprints across 2,800 kilometres in under 18 hours to arrest him.“During interrogation, it was found that Jha had earlier worked as a professor of Applied Mathematics in medical colleges in Haryana and Bihar. He used his analytical skills to plan extortion calls, adopting fake identities and leveraging fear to extract money,” said DCP Akanksha Yadav.The mobile phone used in the extortion call was recovered, and police are analyzing his conversations to identify other potential targets.
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Man tries to frame wife’s loverIn another incident, a 43-year-old man, Umesh Kumar, issued a hoax bomb threat targeting Charbagh Railway Station and Chaudhary Charan Singh Airport to implicate his wife’s lover. Kumar allegedly used a mobile phone registered in the lover’s name to make the call.“Police then reached his lover’s house, where the woman told them the phone was in the possession of her husband, Umesh Kumar. During questioning, Umesh confessed to the crime,” police said.Kumar was booked under Sections 212(A) and 351(3) of the BNS at GRP Charbagh police station and sent to judicial custody.
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Delhi assembly bomb threatOn 24 March, the Delhi Assembly received two bomb threat emails warning of blasts at the assembly building and a Delhi Metro station. The threats coincided with Chief Minister Rekha Gupta’s budget presentation. Emails referenced the Khalistan Referendum and named several high-profile leaders, including Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Union Home Minister Amit Shah, and External Affairs Minister Subrahmanyam Jaishankar.“AS check of Vidhansabha has been conducted by BDTs of Security and North District. Nothing suspicious found so far. Necessary Police arrangements are in place,” said DCP (north) Raja Banthia.Security teams conducted thorough checks, and no explosives were found. Cyber teams are investigating the origin of the emails.
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Chandigarh schools threatenedOn 7 April, threatening emails warned of bomb blasts at St. Stephen’s School (Sector 45), Ryan International School (Sector 49), and Shivalik Public School, as well as at the mayor’s office and Secretariat. The emails claimed responsibility on behalf of the “Khalistan National Army” and mentioned grenade attacks at “Chandigarh University Gandhi Bhavan.”Authorities deployed bomb disposal squads, dog squads, and police units to inspect the sites.No suspicious object has been found so far, and an initial assessment suggests the email may be a hoax. However, authorities are following standard security protocols, officials said.Cyber teams are tracing the digital footprint of the sender. Parents and school authorities have been advised to remain vigilant while security is tightened around key institutions.Pattern and impact of hoax bomb threatsOver the past year, hoax bomb threats have shown a disturbing trend: while minors often commit these acts out of curiosity or desire for a holiday, adults may use them for personal vendettas, extortion, or manipulation.Authorities caution that even if a threat is a prank, it creates panic, diverts security resources, and can have severe legal consequences. In addition to triggering evacuations and disrupting schedules, these threats create a climate of fear among parents, students, and the public.“All such cases will be taken up with rigidity. Even a prank can escalate into a serious law and order situation,” DCP Rambadan Singh said.As cybercrime and digital communication continue to grow, police stress the need for monitoring online behavior and educating children about the legal and social consequences of sending false threats.
