Government calls for detailed SOP, monitoring of emails to combat hoax bomb threats
- In Reports
- 10:52 PM, May 06, 2024
- Myind Staff
Following hoax bomb threats received via email by several schools in Delhi-NCR, the Union Home Ministry highlighted the importance of developing comprehensive protocols and standard operating procedures (SOP) to address such situations.
The Home Secretary has urged the Delhi Police and schools to collaborate closely to prevent any undue panic arising from misinformation.
The ministry also emphasised the need to enhance security, CCTV cameras and regular monitoring of emails in schools.
“Home Secretary asked Delhi Police and schools to have close coordination for an effective response mechanism so that misinformation does not create any unnecessary panic,” a release issued by the ministry said.
It added, “Home Secretary also emphasised the need to enhance security, CCTV cameras and regular monitoring of emails in the schools. The meeting was attended by the chief secretary and Delhi Police commissioner.”
Earlier this week, over 200 schools in Delhi-NCR received identical bomb threat emails, leading to extensive evacuations and searches as anxious parents hurried to collect their children.
PCR vehicles were swiftly dispatched to schools, and district police, Bomb Disposal Squad (BDS), MAC, Special Cell, Crime Control Room, District Disaster Management Authority (DDMA), National Disaster Response Force (NDRF), Fire CATS, and numerous other agencies were put on alert. Despite thorough searches conducted by authorities, nothing suspicious was found, leading to the declaration of the incident as a mass hoax.
Police reported that the emails were sent through a virtual private network (VPN), which redirected and obscured data through foreign servers. According to the police, in this case, the user had used a Russian company's mailing service to send the e-mail.
On Monday, at least 16 schools in Ahmedabad city, Gujarat, also received hoax bomb threat emails. Initial investigations indicate that these emails likely originated from Russia, resembling the pattern observed in the Delhi incidents.
Image source: Hindustan Times
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