Over 60 schools in and around bengaluru receive bomb threat, students evacuated safely
Bengaluru, Dec 1: Sixty-eight private schools in and around the city on Friday received emails warning of bomb threat on their premises, triggering panic among the staff and parents, police said.
The school authorities immediately alerted police, who reached the institutions concerned with the bomb disposal squads and anti-sabotage check teams, they said, while indicating the bomb threat could be a hoax.
Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah said he has asked police to seriously investigate the e-mail and its source, and provide adequate security to schools and temples as a precautionary measure.
State Home Minister G Parameshwara said the message had come from an email id "kharijites@beeble.com," saying bombs have been placed in the schools in Bengaluru and threatened to kill children and staff.
"We are seriously verifying it and its source. I have spoken to the Commissioner and officials and have given the necessary instructions and verification on whether it is true or hoax and measures to be taken accordingly. We will verify as to who is behind it and if there is an involvement of any terrorist organisation, and take measures accordingly. For now, it cannot be said who is behind it. The message in the email asks people to convert and other things--it will be verified," he told reporters.
Among 68 schools which received the bomb threat, 48 of them are located within the city while the rest are in Bengaluru Rural limits, police added.
The students and staff were immediately evacuated from the school premises, police said, adding no suspicious objects were found yet and prima facie, it looks like a hoax message.
City Police Commissioner B Dayananda said bomb detection and disposal squads were sent to all these schools, and most likely it seemed to be a hoax.
"Earlier also similar threat letters and emails had come to schools and they were found to be a hoax for mischief and police had identified those behind it. Police are verifying today's mails too...officials and personnel have gone to all these spots. I appeal to people not to worry, as most likely all these are hoax calls (mails)," he said.
Another senior officer said the police teams have not found any suspicious objects on any of the school premises. "Prime facie, it appears to be a hoax message. We are also in the process of registering a case in this regard and a thorough investigation is underway."
Students had already reached schools when they got to know about the email threat. Panic-stricken parents rushed from their respective offices and homes to get their children back home safely. Some of these students from different schools which received bomb threats said they had exams scheduled for the day.
CM Siddaramaiah said, "I have spoken to police officers and I have instructed them to take adequate security measures at all places, to remain cautious, and to find out those behind it."
"There is no need for anyone to worry. I have asked security to be tightened, and checks to be conducted at schools which have received threats," he added.
Deputy Chief Minister D K Shivakumar visited one of the schools which received the bomb threat. He enquired about the situation from the school authorities and the police.
"I was a bit dismayed after seeing the news on TV, as some schools I know and the one near my house were also mentioned. So I went out to check. The police have shown me the e-mail. Prima facie, it appears to be fake (hoax). I spoke to the police...but we should be cautious.Parents are a bit worried, no need to worry. Police are looking into it," he said.
He appealed to parents not to worry and said their children would be safe. "Some mischief mongers might have done this, in 24 hours we will nab them. Cyber crime police are active; they are doing their job...we should also be cautious," he added.
The home minister also pointed about a similar threat last year turning out to be a hoax.
"This also may be a hoax, but we won't take it lightly. Even if there is one per cent (doubt), we will take it seriously and take measures like sensitising the intelligence and informing central agencies, which the department has to do," he said.
Meanwhile, the Opposition slammed the government over the matter, alleging there was deterioration of law and order in the state.
The BJP and JD(S) alleged lack of fear about police among anti-social elements.
"Anti social forces in the state have no fear of police. As a result, miscreants have fearlessly tried to create an atmosphere of fear by spreading the message that bombs have been placed at some schools in Bengaluru," state BJP President B Y Vijayendra said.
However, this case cannot be treated lightly as a hoax as schools have been targeted, he said, adding serious investigation and precaution should be the priority of the government.
"In order to provide protection to every school in the state and to create a worry-free environment for students, teachers and parents, I urge for a comprehensive investigation of this case and necessary immediate action," he said in a post on 'X'.
With such incidents, certain vested interests were able to create an atmosphere of fear or panic among people, state JD(S) chief and former chief minister H D Kumaraswamy said.
After the Congress came to power, the law and order situation has deteriorated in the state and there is a lack of confidence among the people about their safety.
The government has to take this threat e-mail seriously and immediately bring the truth out, he added.
Let the Truth be known. If you read VB and like VB, please be a VB Supporter and Help us deliver the Truth to one and all.
Over 350 illegal religious structures removed along Nepal border
Lucknow, May 11 (PTI): The Uttar Pradesh government on Sunday said that more than 350 unauthorised religious sites, including madrasas, mosques, mazars and Eidgahs, have been identified and subjected to sealing or demolition in recent days, an official statement issued here said.
Acting on Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath's clear directive that no religious encroachment will be tolerated, the administration in districts such as Pilibhit, Shravasti, Balrampur, Bahraich, Siddharthnagar and Maharajganj has launched a sweeping campaign, it said.
The authorities have systematically identified illegal structures and taken strict action, continuing operations even on Sunday.
The chief minister has made it clear that encroachment in the name of any religion will not be allowed and all violators, especially those running unrecognised religious institutions, will face legal consequences, the statement said.
On May 10 and 11, 104 madrasas, one mosque, five mazars and two Eidgahs built illegally on public and private land were identified in Shravasti. All were issued notices and sealed, it said.
One illegal madrasa on public land was demolished and two unrecognized madrasas on private land were sealed, the statement added.
In Bahraich, officials identified 13 madrasas, eight mosques, two mazars and one Eidgah illegally constructed on government land.
After issuing notices, five were sealed and 11 were demolished, including eight madrasas, two mosques and one mazar, the statement said.
In Siddharthnagar, the authorities identified four mosques and 18 madrasas and one more madrasa for illegal construction. Notices were issued to these structures. Five madrasas were sealed and nine were demolished. In total, action was taken against 23 illegal structures in the district, it said.
In Maharajganj’s Nautanwa tehsil, Parsamalik village, an unrecognized madrasa operating on Maktab land was shut down based on a report submitted by the District Minority Welfare Officer.
The building’s keys were handed over to the local police station in-charge. So far, 29 madrasas and five mazars constructed through encroachment on public and private land have been demolished in the district.
In past two days in Lakhimpur Kheri, two mosques, one Eidgah on public land along with eight madrasas on private land were found to be illegally constructed.
Of the 13 structures identified, one was served a notice, nine were sealed and three have been demolished so far, the statement said.
The district authorities in Pilibhit have identified an illegal mosque built on public land in Bharatpur village, covering an area of 0.0310 hectares.
According to the district magistrate, a notice has been issued to the parties involved, seeking a response within 15 days. Action against the illegal construction will be taken after the notice period ends, it said.
On Sunday, an under-construction madrasa on public land in Virpur Semra village, Tulsipur tehsil, was demolished in Balrampur. So far, 30 madrasas, 10 mazars and one Eidgah have been demolished in the district.
Ten of them were built illegally on public land, while 20 were constructed without authorization on private land, the statement said.
