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16 private schools in Mohali city, one each in Zirakpur and Kharar get bomb threat emails

Police find no explosive material at any location.

4 min readMohaliFeb 11, 2026 10:20 PM IST

The incident comes weeks after similar bomb threat emails were sent to schools in neighbouring Chandigarh. (Express Photo)

Panic gripped the area Wednesday morning after bomb threat emails were received by around 16 private schools in Mohali city and one each in Zirakpur and Kharar, prompting a massive police response, evacuation of students and staff, and multi-agency search operations across campuses.

Police authorities, meanwhile, confirmed that no explosive material was found at any location.

According to Mohali Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Harmandeep Singh Hans, the threatening emails were received by school authorities between 7.30 am and 8 am, just as students were arriving for classes. On noticing the alarming messages warning that school premises would be blown up, administrators immediately informed the police.

Acting swiftly, police teams, led by SPs, DSPs and SHOs rushed to the affected schools. Anti-Sabotage Teams and Bomb Disposal Squads were deployed, while additional specialised units were called in from neighbouring districts and Chandigarh headquarters to assist with simultaneous searches.

As a precautionary measure, all schools were evacuated and closed before search operations began. School managements also alerted parents through urgent messages asking them to pick up their children due to security concerns. With police assistance, campuses were cleared before inspection teams entered the premises.

SSP Hans said that coordinated search operations at all identified locations were completed within about two-and-a-half-hours. “No explosive material was found at any of the locations,” he said, adding that Mohali police remains fully alert to such incidents and is taking the matter seriously.

Also Read | Multiple schools in Chandigarh receive bomb threat emails; premises evacuated

The extensive operation was supervised by SP (City) Dilpreet Singh along with SPs Navneet Singh Mahal, Mohit Aggarwal, Sukhnaz Singh, Ramandeep Singh and Talwinder Singh Gill, besides DSP (City-1) Prithvi Singh Chahal, DSP (City-2) Harsimran Singh Bal, and officers from all police stations concerned. Senior officers, including the SSP himself, were present on the ground monitoring security arrangements and search procedures.

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Schools covered during the searches included Amity School, Doon School, Learning Paths School, Gurukul School, Vivek High School, Paragon School, YPS, St Mary’s School, Manav Rachna School, Lawrence School, Gem Public School, Ram Tirath School, Shiwalik Public School, and Sant Ishar Singh School. The threats targeted several well-known private institutions across the district.

Police sources said that once multiple schools reported similar emails, an immediate district-wide alert was sounded across police stations and specialised units, triggering a coordinated response to ensure student safety and to rule out any real threat.

Multiple bomb detection teams were deployed simultaneously so that searches at different campuses could be completed quickly. Following the incident, the police initiated legal action.

SSP Hans confirmed that an FIR is being registered and the case has been handed over to the Cyber Police Station, Phase 7, Mohali, to trace the origin of the threatening email ID and conduct a detailed technical investigation.

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Officials will analyse digital evidence, including IP logs and server trails, to identify those responsible.

The incident comes weeks after similar bomb threat emails were sent to schools in neighbouring Chandigarh, raising concerns among authorities about a possible pattern of hoax threats targeting educational institutions in the region.

Police are also examining whether the Mohali emails are linked to previous cases or part of a coordinated attempt to spread panic.

Police reiterated that despite the seriousness of the threat messages, the swift evacuation and systematic searches ensured there was no danger to students or staff.

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Police officials added that security vigilance around schools has been heightened and monitoring continues as part of precautionary measures while the cyber investigation progresses.

Jagpreet Singh Sandhu

Jagpreet Singh Sandhu is a Senior Correspondent at The Indian Express, based in Chandigarh. He is a veteran reporter with over a decade of experience, specializing in legal, crime, and environmental reporting across the tri-city area (Chandigarh, Mohali, and Panchkula). Professional Background Core Beat: He primarily covers the Punjab and Haryana High Court, District Courts, CBI Courts, and Consumer Commissions. His legal reporting is known for breaking down complex judgments and tracking long-standing criminal cases. Environmental Reporting: Jagpreet has become a key voice in reporting on the deteriorating air quality and weather patterns in the Punjab-Haryana region. Crime & Technology: He frequently reports on cybercrime, digital arrest scams, and the intersection of technology and law enforcement, such as the development of citizen-centric policing apps. Recent Notable Articles (Late 2025) His late 2025 coverage has focused on significant judicial verdicts, major financial scams, and public health concerns: 1. Legal & CBI Court Verdicts "12 years on, CBI court acquits Haryana judge, parents in wife’s death case" (Dec 17, 2025): Detailed coverage of the acquittal of a judicial officer in a high-profile dowry death case from 2013. "‘Wicked & evil mind’: Court gives man 30-year term for kidnapping, sexually assaulting 8-year-old" (Dec 16, 2025): A report on a stern judgment from a Chandigarh district court in a POCSO case. "Man acquitted in rape case after victim found ‘very happy’ in wedding reception" (Dec 9, 2025): Covering a unique legal observation regarding consensual relationships and age verification. 2. Investigative & Scams "CBI registers FIR in Rs 1.14-cr Patient Welfare Grant scam at PGIMER" (Dec 19, 2025): An exposé on how funds meant for poor patients were siphoned off through forged documents and a photocopy shop inside the PGIMER campus. "Month-long torture, Rs 85 lakh transfers: How ‘Innocence Certificate’ led to a ‘digital arrest’ of an elderly couple" (Dec 12, 2025): Detailing a sophisticated cyber fraud targeting senior citizens in Chandigarh. 3. Environment & Public Safety "Panchkula air turns ‘very poor’, fourth worst in country" (Dec 22, 2025): Reporting on the sudden spike in pollution levels in Panchkula compared to neighbouring cities. "Soon, you can snap that overspeeding car, and report to Chandigarh Police" (Dec 16, 2025): Breaking news on a new mobile application being developed to allow citizens to report traffic violations via geo-tagged photos. 4. Gangster Culture & Crime "City Beautiful in the crosshairs of gangsters" (Dec 14, 2025): A feature analysis of how Chandigarh has increasingly become a staging ground for extortion and rivalries between gangster modules. "Shooters wanted for Parry murder held by Delhi Police Special Cell" (Dec 18, 2025): Following the developments in a high-profile murder case in Chandigarh’s Sector 26. Signature Style Jagpreet is recognized for his tenacious follow-up on cold cases and his ability to report on courtroom drama with a focus on victim rights. His work often highlights administrative lapses, whether in the handling of patient welfare funds or the enforcement of environmental standards. ... Read More

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