New Delhi: Delhi’s Tihar jail Tuesday became the latest target of a bomb threat sent via an email after similar emails created fear in schools, hospitals, and the Delhi airport over the past several weeks, ThePrint has learnt. Nothing suspicious has been found in the jail premises so far.
Four hospitals in Delhi — Deep Chand Bandhu Hospital, Dada Dev Hospital, Hedgewar Hospital, and Guru Teg Bahadur (GTB) Hospital — also received the bomb threats Tuesday, two days after a bomb hoax at Indira Gandhi International Airport (IGIA).
On Sunday, government-run Burari Hospital, Sanjay Gandhi Memorial Hospital, and Delhi State Cancer Institute received these emails, which reportedly targeted Dada Dev Hospital, Deen Dayal Upadhyay Hospital, Hindu Rao Hospital, and Aruna Asaf Ali Govt Hospital, as well. Earlier this month, such emails targeted several schools in Delhi-NCR.
Soon after the latest bomb threats, Delhi Police started an investigation and bomb squads and Delhi fire services reached the four hospitals, but nothing suspicious was found.
After the bomb threat at IGIA Sunday, the Central Industrial Security Force (CISF) officials evacuated the airport and screened the area. At the time, DCP Airport Usha Rangnani said, “The security operations control centre at IGI Airport received a threat email concerning an explosive device within the premises. Enhanced security protocols are now in effect, and safety measures have been intensified.” However, nothing suspicious turned up during searches at the airport, a Delhi Police statement later said.
Less than two weeks ago, Delhi Police detained a minor for sending Police Commissioner Sanjay Arora an email about a bomb in a school near Nangloi railway station. The 12-year-old was sent home after counselling.
Before that incident, over 100 schools across Delhi-NCR received bomb threats on 1 May. A police investigation has revealed that the email IDs used were routed through Russia. Following the school threats, the home affairs ministry issued a statement, calling the emails a hoax.
The police were fully prepared to cover and prevent any untoward incidents, Delhi Lieutenant Governor V.K. Saxena told the media during the school threats. “The Delhi Police has found where these emails are coming from, and an investigation is underway. All I would like to say is that the culprits will not be spared and will be given strict punishment,” he said.
On Monday, four schools in Rajasthan’s Jaipur and seven schools in Gujarat’s Ahmedabad also received bomb threats via emails. The schools sent students home immediately. But, the bomb squad and sniffer dogs deployed to the schools are yet to find anything suspicious.
Kajol Pandey is an intern with ThePrint.
(Edited by Madhurita Goswami)