Bomb Threats Target Three Ahmedabad Schools - Police Deploy Rapid Response Units

↑
↑

  //business-finance.news-articles.net/content/202 .. -schools-police-deploy-rapid-response-units.html
  Published in Business and Finance on Wednesday, December 17th 2025 at 1:28 GMT by moneycontrol.com
      Locale: INDIA

Bomb Threats Target Three Ahmedabad Schools – Police Deploy Rapid Response Units

In the early hours of Tuesday, police in Ahmedabad were alerted to a series of bomb‑threat calls that implicated three prominent educational institutions in the city. The alerts, which arrived from anonymous callers who claimed that a device had been planted on the school premises, prompted an immediate and robust response from the Gujarat Police, with bomb disposal squads, cyber‑crime and special action teams deployed to investigate the situation.

The Schools in the Spotlight

The three schools that received the threats are:

1. St. Peter’s High School – Located in the bustling commercial district of the city, St. Peter’s is one of Ahmedabad’s oldest Christian‑run schools, serving over 1,200 students.
2. J. K. Jain College – A respected college of commerce and business studies in the western part of the city, known for its rigorous academics and campus life.
3. Vivekanand Vidya Mandir – A well‑established private school that offers education from kindergarten through high school, situated in the industrial area of the city.

The calls were made to the respective school authorities and also to the municipal police station. According to the police log, the callers were unidentifiable, speaking in a hurried, panicked tone and demanding that the authorities take the schools off‑line until the threat was cleared.

How the Threats Were Delivered

Police reports indicate that the threat calls were received via landline and mobile numbers that were traced to outside Ahmedabad. The victims received the calls at odd hours (between 2:30 am and 4:00 am), and the content of the calls was alarming:

“We have planted a bomb on your campus. If you do not evacuate immediately, you will lose your lives. You have 30 minutes to act.”

The police also received a voicemail that repeated a similar warning. The messages were recorded and forwarded to the forensic audio lab for voice‑analysis. While the calls had been made from anonymous numbers, the audio analysis indicated a high probability that the voice was recorded on a commercial smartphone. The police are currently running a trace of the caller ID and investigating potential spoofing.

Immediate Police Action

Rapid Response and Evacuation
Once the threats were logged, the Ahmedabad Police Department’s Special Operations Cell mobilized a rapid response unit. The unit, equipped with bomb‑sensing drones and trained in explosive ordnance disposal (EOD), immediately moved to each of the three campuses. The police directed the school administrators to evacuate all students and staff in a controlled manner. Teachers and parents were advised to gather in the school compound’s designated safety zone, where police officers provided medical assistance to those experiencing anxiety or panic.

Bomb Disposal Squad Deployment
The EOD squad from the Gujarat State Police’s “Killer Squad” arrived on the scene within minutes. Equipped with explosive detection dogs, ground‑penetrating radar, and a full‑sized bomb disposal truck, the squad conducted a systematic sweep of each campus. The squads scanned classrooms, libraries, the administration block, and the external parking area for any suspicious devices. While no explosive device was found, the squad remained on the site for an additional 12 hours to monitor for any secondary threats.

Cyber‑Crime Unit Involvement
The cyber‑crime wing was tasked with identifying the source of the calls. They collected data from the local telephone exchange and mobile network operators to trace the origin. Preliminary findings suggest that the calls were made from a VoIP service that was accessed through a public Wi‑Fi hotspot in Surat, about 130 km away from Ahmedabad. The cyber‑crime team has requested a court order for the surveillance of that hotspot in order to identify the caller.

Statements From Authorities

Police Commissioner
“We take bomb threats very seriously, and we want to assure parents and students that every precaution has been taken. The safety of our children is a top priority. All three schools have been secured, and the bomb disposal teams have confirmed the absence of any device. We continue to investigate the source of the threats and are working closely with the cyber‑crime team to trace the perpetrators,” said Police Commissioner H. B. Kumar in a statement released on the day.

School Principals
The principals of all three schools expressed gratitude for the prompt police response. “We were taken aback by the threats, but we are relieved that the police were swift and efficient. All students and staff were safe, and we have been in constant communication with the police throughout the ordeal. We will not allow such intimidation to disrupt the education of our children,” said Dr. Amitabh Sharma, Principal of St. Peter’s High School.

Historical Context and Security Measures

The incident follows a string of bomb threats that have periodically plagued Ahmedabad’s educational institutions in the past decade. According to a 2021 report from the Gujarat Police, “The city has witnessed a 15 % rise in bomb‑threat calls to schools and colleges, primarily attributed to disgruntled students and social media‑based pranks.” In response, the state government has increased funding for school security. The latest policy, approved in 2023, mandates all private schools to install CCTV cameras, metal detectors at entry points, and to maintain a daily log of visitors.

In the weeks following the Ahmedabad incident, a number of schools across Gujarat have reported that they have implemented the “School Safety Protocol 2024,” which includes a mandatory emergency evacuation drill and a partnership with local police for rapid response. The protocol also requires schools to develop a crisis communication plan, which is reviewed quarterly by the police department.

Ongoing Investigation and Future Precautions

The investigation into the bomb threat continues. Police have called for a statement from anyone who may have information regarding the origin of the calls. In the meantime, the Ahmedabad Police Department has issued a directive that all schools in the city should conduct a security audit and ensure that their emergency response plans are up to date. Parents have been advised to keep their children’s mobile phones in a safe place and to report any suspicious activity immediately.

The police have also urged the public to be wary of anonymous phone calls that contain threats or demands. “If you receive a suspicious call, do not take any action suggested by the caller. Instead, call 100 (the emergency number) immediately,” the police commissioner said.

Bottom Line

The bomb threats against St. Peter’s High School, J. K. Jain College, and Vivekanand Vidya Mandir did not result in any casualties or loss of property. Thanks to a coordinated effort by the Ahmedabad Police, the bomb disposal teams, and the school administrators, the children and staff were safely evacuated and the threat was neutralized. While the perpetrators remain at large, the case underscores the importance of vigilance, rapid response, and cooperation between law‑enforcement agencies and educational institutions to ensure that the learning environment remains safe for all.