Delhi Police links student behind school bomb threats with politically-affiliated NGO

New Delhi: Delhi Police's claim on Tuesday that a Class 12 student is detained for allegedly sending bomb threats to around 400 schools and that his guardian is linked to an NGO that "supports a party" and campaigned in favour of Parliament attack case convict Afzal Guru triggered a war of words between the BJP and AAP.

With the police claims coming during the election season, the BJP alleged that the NGO was linked to the Arvind Kejriwal-led party as Chief Minister Atishi's parents had campaigned for Afzal's release while the AAP returned fire claiming that the saffron party has now resorted to "dirty politics".

The student studying in a public school was apprehended following investigations into bomb threats received by 23 schools on January 8. Investigators zeroed in on the boy using advanced cyber forensic techniques to trace the origin of the threat emails, police claimed.

An examination of his residence, which was located by using digital footprints and email tracking mechanisms, and the "confession" of the minor showed he was involved in several instances of similar threatening emails sent to more than 400 schools in Delhi, police said.

"The hoax threats were delivered through heavily encrypted email services and complex digital pathways, clearly indicating intent to conceal identity and evade detection. Considering technical complexities and advanced technique used in sending such emails, besides involvement of a juvenile, the role of other entities/players/associates was also probed," police said.

During the investigations, police said, the background of the boy's father was working with an NGO that has been "raising issues regarding the hanging of Afzal Guru and is also helping a political party".

Police said investigators were looking into the "influence of this NGO and its proximity to a political party", as it raises "critical questions about a possible larger conspiracy" to create public unrest through "disruptive tactics".

Senior BJP leader Sudhanshu Trivedi alleged that AAP has "deep bonds" with such NGOs, which have opposed Afzal Guru's hanging and referred to Atishi's academician-parents who were part of the campaign for release of Afzal Guru.

"Both of the parents of Delhi CM Atishi supported the clemency petition of Afzal Guru. There seems to be a direct connection between these two. Kejriwal should come forward and AAP clarify what their relation is with these people," he said. Delhi BJP chief Virendra Sachdeva claimed that everyone knows about the relationship of Kejriwal and Atishi with Afzal Guru.

Hitting back, AAP Rajya Sabha floor leader Sanjay Singh alleged that the BJP is "doing drama without any proof and evidence" and that it has resorted to "petty politics on serious issues" like the security of the country and Delhi.

"Last year, threats were made to bomb many temples, schools and flights in the country. What happened in these cases? We raised these issues but there was no action.  In May 2024, there was a threat to blow up Delhi schools but the police have not been able to tell anything till date. Suddenly you remembered this and did this drama," he added.