In a concerning turn of events, at least 10 schools in Kanpur, Uttar Pradesh, have received bomb threat emails, adding to the spate of similar incidents reported in several cities across India, including Delhi and Jaipur.
The threats were received by schools such as Sanatan Dharma Mandir School of Nazirabad, Barra KDMA School, Gulmohar Vihar Public School, and the prestigious Dr. Virendra Swaroop Memorial School, among others. The emails, which were sent from Russian servers, caused panic among school authorities and parents, leading to heightened security measures and police investigations.
Joint Commissioner of Police Harish Chandra stated that the police have initiated late-night checking of school premises along with bomb disposal squads after being informed about the threatening emails by the school principals. The police are also investigating whether there is a particular pattern in the threats received across different cities.
This incident comes on the heels of similar bomb threats made to schools and hospitals in Delhi, Noida Jaipur, Lucknow, and Ahmedabad over the past two weeks. The first wave of threats began on May 1, when nearly 100 schools in Delhi, two in Noida, and one in Lucknow received bomb threats via email, prompting mass evacuations.
The following week, several schools in Ahmedabad also received emails threatening to blow up educational institutions. Just three days ago, Delhi’s Indira Gandhi International Airport (IGI) and over 10 hospitals received similar bomb threats via emails, which were later deemed as hoaxes by the Delhi Police.
In Kanpur, the police have conducted thorough searches of the affected schools, and preliminary investigations have revealed that the threats were indeed hoaxes. However, the authorities remain vigilant and have asked all schools to stay on precautionary alert.
The Joint Commissioner of Police has also stated that discussions have been held with police officers from Jaipur, Gurgaon, Ghaziabad, Delhi, and Lucknow regarding the bomb threat emails, as the same domain has been used to send threats to schools in these cities as well.
The situation has caused widespread concern among parents and school communities, with many children staying away from school due to the threats. The police have assured that they are taking all necessary measures to ensure the safety of students and staff and that the investigation is ongoing to identify the perpetrators behind these hoax emails.
In conclusion, the bomb threats made to schools in Kanpur, UP, are part of a larger pattern of similar incidents across India in recent weeks. While the threats have been deemed hoaxes so far, the authorities are taking them seriously and are working to ensure the safety of students and staff. Schools and parents must remain vigilant and cooperate with the police to maintain a secure learning environment for children.
The Mental Affect on Students and Teachers
Bomb threats made to schools can have a significant negative impact on the mental health of students and teachers. When these threats occur, they create a climate of fear, anxiety, and stress that can be detrimental to the well-being of the entire school community.
Student may experience heightened levels of anxiety, especially when they receive alerts about threats on their phones. Some may be afraid to stay in their dorm rooms or attend classes, and even feel uneasy around unattended bags or people who don’t look like them on campus. The threats can make students feel unsafe in a place where they are supposed to feel secure and belong.
Parents also suffer from stress and worry when their children are in a school that receives a bomb threat. Tanya Washington Hicks, a professor whose son attends Morgan State University, felt her “heart being squeezed” when she heard about the threat at his school. She had to tamp down here to keep him calm while he was on lockdown in his dorm.
Teachers and staff also have the burden of these threats, as they have not responded to the incidents, conducted evacuations, or provided reassurance to students. The disruption to the normal school routine and the need to make up lost days due to closures adds to the strain.
Bomb threats can have a lasting psychological impact, even if they turn out to be hoaxes. The fear and anxiety linger, and students and staff may become hypervigilant, reacting nervously to innocuous situations, The threats undermine the sense of safety and belonging that schools should provide.
