The Delhi Police responded to the plea with concern about the threat of bomb attacks on schools in the national capital. By deploying bomb disposal squads and bomb detection teams, conducting mock drills, and issuing comprehensive guidelines, they have demonstrated their commitment to ensuring the safety and security of school children
NEW DELHI: On Thursday (17th May): The Delhi Police responded to concerns over the threat of bomb attacks on schools in the national capital by providing details of their preparedness and measures taken to ensure the safety of schoolchildren. In a status report filed in the Delhi High Court, the police highlighted the deployment of bomb disposal squads (BDS) and bomb detection teams (BDT) across the city.
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Previously, Justice Subramonium Prasad asked the police to provide details on the measures implemented to ensure the safe evacuation of schoolchildren without causing panic during a bomb threat, minimizing reliance on parents. The court also asked for data on the number of schools in each zone, the designated nodal authority for each zone, and the number of mock drills conducted.
The Delhi Police informed the court that they have a total of five bomb disposal squads and 18 bomb detection teams to cover over 4,600 schools in the city. The squads are strategically located in different ranges, with one BDS each in the Central, East, New Delhi, and South ranges. An additional BDS is stationed with the railways and metro unit range.
“There are 18 Bomb Detection Teams (BDT), one each stationed in all 15 districts and one each for IGI Airport, Railway Unit and Metro Unit. The reporting authority for the BDT is the concerned district DCP or Unit DCP. 120 number of mock drills have been conducted in schools from 01.01.2023 to till 06.05.2024,” the report stated.
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To enhance preparedness, the police conducted 120 mock drills in schools between January 2023 and May 2024. These drills served to familiarize school staff, students, and relevant authorities with emergency protocols and evacuation procedures in the event of a bomb threat.
In 2023, lawyer Arpit Bhargava filed a petition following a hoax bomb threat at Delhi Public School (DPS), Mathura Road.
According to a recent police report, Bomb Disposal Squads (BDS) are stationed in the Central, East, New Delhi, and South ranges, which cover 1,764, 1,032, 76, and 1,762 schools, respectively. Additionally, one squad is assigned to the railway and metro unit ranges.
In response to the court’s query regarding the safe evacuation of school children without causing panic or depending on parents, the police stated that they have issued guidelines to address bomb threats in schools. These guidelines outline the roles and responsibilities of various stakeholders, including the police, fire department, and school authorities.
According to the guidelines, upon receiving a bomb threat call, the local police are instructed to assess the situation and promptly engage bomb detection teams, fire department personnel, traffic police, disaster management teams, ambulances, and hospitals as required. The special cell of the police will investigate any potential terror angle behind the threat call, while maintaining law and order.
The police have also clarified the legal action to be taken in the case of hoax calls and have emphasized the importance of following the prescribed guidelines in the event of bomb threats. A detailed Standard Operating Procedure for Bomb Disposal Squads and Bomb Detection Teams was issued in 2021 to ensure effective response and coordination.
The Directorate of Education (DoE) has also been actively involved in promoting school safety. In its status report, the DoE expressed a “zero-tolerance policy” towards safety concerns and stated that officials are working diligently to implement the safety guidelines, including those related to bomb threats.
The DoE mentioned that it has issued multiple directives to institutions to enhance safety and security measures. This includes instructions outlined in a circular dated April 16, detailing precautionary measures and the responsibilities of school authorities in the event of a bomb threat.
The case is scheduled for another hearing next week.
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