NEW DELHI/NOIDA: The Union Home Ministry and Delhi Police on Wednesday termed the bomb threat to schools in the city and adjoining areas as a "hoax", and asked people not to panic. Police and security agencies are taking necessary steps as per protocol, the ministry said.
Lt Governor VK Saxena said that Delhi Police has traced the origin of the bomb threat emails that were sent to multiple schools in Delhi-NCR on Wednesday, and assured that the culprits will be given strict punishment.
"Delhi Police has found out from where these emails are coming. Investigation is going on. I would just say that the culprits will not be spared and strict punishment will be given for disrupting peace and harmony," he said.
"There is no need to panic. Mails appears to be hoax. Delhi Police and security agencies are taking necessary steps as per protocol," a home ministry official said.
Meanwhile, the anti-terror cell of Delhi Police will investigate the case.
The case is being registered with the Special Cell and a dedicated team will be formed to conduct the investigation, the official said.
"The matter is related to national security. It needs a deeper probe," the official said.
In a scare of unprecedented scale, at least 100 schools in the Delhi-NCR area received an identical bomb threat by email early Wednesday, triggering mass evacuations and searches as panic-stricken parents rushed to pick up their children.
The threat was declared a hoax as "nothing objectionable" was found during searches, the police said.
Mother Mary School at Mayur Vihar, Delhi Public School at Dwarka, Sanskriti School in Chanakyapuri, Delhi Public School at Vasant Kunj, Amity School in Saket and Delhi Public School (DPS) in Noida Sector 30 had received the threat.
According to the police, bomb detection team, bomb disposal squad and officials of fire brigade were rushed to the schools in Delhi and a search operation began promptly.
Noida Police said that classes have been suspended in DPS, Noida and police force has been deployed.
"Taking immediate cognizance of the information, checking is being done around the school by the police force. Other necessary measures are also being taken," the Noida Police said in a brief statement.
More schools are said to have received a similar threat mail and it is suspected that one person was behind it all, an officer said.
Security agencies, including Delhi Police Special Cell, are looking to find the source of the email.