A more sinister angle has emerged in the bomb hoax emails sent to nearly 100 schools in Delhi and the National Capital Region with the police now investigating whether there is a terror link to them. With the emails being traced back to a Russian domain using the internet protocol (IP) address, the Delhi Police's Special Cell is looking into a connection with that country as well as Pakistan, sources have said.
The suspicion is that the threat was sent at the behest of the Pakistani intelligence agency Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) by an ISIS module, said an official. Giving this theory credence is the fact that the email ID from which the threats were sent to the schools is sawariim@mail.ru. Sawariim, an Arabic word, has been used extensively in ISIS propaganda since 2014.
An official said the Islamic terror group has been plotting a cyber war against India and that the ISI is helping it do so.
Students were sent home early in all the schools after they received the bomb threat via email on Wednesday morning. A thorough search was conducted at all the institutions, but nothing suspicious was found.
Delhi Lieutenant Governor VK Saxena and the home ministry have both said the threats appear to be hoaxes. "I request the parents not to panic, and cooperate with the administration in ensuring the safety of schools and the children. The miscreants and culprits will not be spared," Mr Saxena said.
Delhi Public School, Noida, Principal Kaamini Bhasin said, "We received a mail regarding a bomb. We decided not to take any risk and also informed the police. The parents have been informed and the students have been sent back home."
In a post on X, Delhi Education Minister Atishi confirmed that some schools had received bomb threats but added that nothing suspicious was found in any of them.
Featured Video Of The Day
Russia-Ukraine War: 1,000 Days On | India Global Special Broadcast | NDTV World
Delhi High Court Hears Plea, Orders Action Plan For Bomb Threats In Schools Air India's Delhi-Visakhapatnam Flight Receives Hoax Bomb Threat Bomb Threat At Delhi School Turns Out To Be 14-Year-Old's Hoax To Skip School Russia's Firing Of ICBM On Ukraine Is Weapon's 1st Combat Use In History Amazon Employee Greets Friend At Wedding, Dies Of Cardiac Arrest This Asian City Is Emerging As Sex Tourism Hub. It's Not Where You Think Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Praises Israel For Pager Attack Brazil Police Call Ex-President Bolsonaro's Indictment Over 2022 "Coup" Plot World Leaders Split As ICC Issues Arrest Warrant For Netanyahu Track Latest News Live on NDTV.com and get news updates from India and around the world.