Exam season is no stranger to desperate measures, but 2024 has taken an unprecedented turn with students using hoax bomb threats to avoid exams. The revelation that bomb scares have occurred across India this year, with some of the threats orchestrated by students to delay exams, adds a new and disturbing dimension to the chaos.
“Exam avoidance” email
In mid-December, delhi police Uncovering the unique case of two students of a Rohini school who sent bomb threat emails to their institution. Their motivation? They are unprepared for the exam and can’t find a better way out than creating panic.
A Delhi Police special team identified the culprit through a detailed investigation of the IP address. Students acknowledged this, citing “inadequate academic preparation” as the reason. While they were given counseling and warnings to their parents, the incident highlights a worrying trend of young people resorting to extreme measures.
This is not an isolated incident. A student at Parshim Vihar admitted to similar behavior after police traced an email sent back to his home. The incidents may seem isolated, but they reflect a larger pattern of school bomb threats that have swept the country throughout the year.
From panic to pattern: The 2024 wave of school bomb threats
story Bomb threats hit Indian schools The crisis officially began in late April 2024. Here’s how the chaos unfolds:
May 2024: Bomb threats sweep the country
On May 1, more than 200 schools in the National Capital Region of Delhi received the same bomb threat email, triggering mass evacuations and panic among parents. Institutions such as Sanskriti School in Chanakyapuri and Delhi Public School in Dwarka and Noida were among the targets. The threats were ultimately declared hoaxes and were traced to an email originating from a Russian IP address.
The knock-on effects are being felt across the country. On May 6, 41 schools in Ahmedabad received similar threats. By May 14, the anniversary of the 2008 Jaipur bombings, more than 55 schools in Jaipur had been targeted in bomb threat emails. Hospitals, Tihar Prison and other critical institutions have also been threatened, suggesting a coordinated but unfounded pattern of intimidation.
Universities and colleges added to the list
May didn’t spare colleges and universities either. On May 23, more than a dozen colleges of Delhi University, including Hansraj College and Sri Venkateswara College, received threatening emails. State universities such as Delhi University of Pharmaceutical Sciences and Research have not been left out. The disturbing frequency of these threats has led authorities to suspect an organized attempt to disrupt academic activity.
A peaceful calm, then a storm
While schools experienced a relatively quiet period between June and September, other departments bore the brunt of the bomb scare hoax. Government offices, airports and hotels have reported a surge in threats, particularly in October, with aviation authorities recording more than 500 false alerts in two weeks.
According to the British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC), as of mid-November, the total number of pranks this year had reached 999, a 10-fold increase from the previous year. The perpetrators included a 17-year-old school dropout who was arrested for making bomb threats against multiple flights via social media.
December 2024: The end of a chaotic year
In December, crisis struck the school again. On December 9, more than 40 schools in Delhi received emails demanding a ransom of $30,000 and threatening to harm students with hidden explosives. Evacuations followed, reflecting the early panic. On the same day, six hotels in Gurgaon reported similar threats, highlighting the widespread nature of these pranks.
The lasting impact of bomb scares and the questions that remain unanswered
These events have left lasting scars in the psyches of students, educators and parents. Former Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal’s concerns about the psychological burden on children resonated in these events. The sheer number and scope of targets, schools, colleges, hospitals, airports and restaurants highlights the need for robust strategies to counter such threats.
While some cases, such as a student’s email about skipping an exam, may elicit a wry smile, the overall narrative is one of destruction and horror. As authorities work to prevent such incidents from happening in the future, the question remains: How do we address the root causes, whether academic stress or the temptation of digital mischief, to ensure the safety and well-being of all involved?
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