By Japan K Pathak, Gandhinagar: Recent reports of hoax bomb threats targeting approximately 30 schools in Ahmedabad and Vadodara have once again brought to light a growing concern: the weaponization of digital threats to disrupt public life. While student safety is non-negotiable, the recurring nature of these incidents—this being the third or fourth such instance recently—demands a shift from reactive panic to strategic common sense.

The Sports of Disruption

The source of these threats is often claimed and believed as brainwashed actors or “Khalistani” elements sitting overseas, using technology to issue threats that are difficult to trace immediately. To these individuals, disrupting a city’s educational system is treated like a “video game” or a sport.

When we shutter classrooms and send thousands of children home, we are essentially allowing these overseas actors to succeed in their goal of creating fear. As noted in the sources, the intent of these hoaxes is successful the moment we allow them to cause mass disruption.

The Human and Logistical Toll

The impact of these frequent disruptions is far-reaching

• Mental Impact on Children: Constant evacuations and talk of “bombs” affect the psyche of young children. Some children, I met, in their innocence, believed bomb could never happen in their school because “teachers wouldn’t allow to bring any other thing from outside” or because they “pray at school,” yet the adult world forces this fear upon them.

• Burden on Parents: Parents, often at work, are forced to drop everything to rush to schools, creating a chain reaction of logistical chaos across the city.

• Educational Loss: While airports often resume operations shortly after a threat is cleared, schools are frequently closed for the entire day, resulting in a significant loss of study time.

The Danger of the “Slippery Slope”

If the state continues to respond to every anonymous note by shutting down entire institutions, where does it end? The sources rightly point out that this sets a dangerous precedent. If a hoax threat is issued during a T20 final match, a Legislative Assembly session, or during the Board Exams where 15 lakh students are appearing, will we shut those down too?. Allowing these disruptions to continue unchallenged essentially invites more of them, as it proves how easily the state’s machinery can be stalled.

A Call for “Threat Perception” and Common Sense

The way forward requires a “middle path” that balances caution with common sense and expert judgment. Gujarat’s police force is highly efficient and possesses the intelligence network required to evaluate the gravity of a threat.
Seasoned officers can often distinguish between a credible threat and a hoax based on the ground situation. I recall an instance where an experienced officer, Tarun Barot, was able to immediately identify a suspicious bag as a non-threat simply by assessing the environment and using professional judgment. We must empower our police and intelligence agencies to make decisions based on “threat perception” rather than forcing a blanket shutdown every time an email is received.

We must stop “entertaining” these hoaxes. While every threat must be checked and safety protocols followed, the state cannot afford to be a puppet of overseas disruptors. By applying common sense and trusting the professional judgment of our security forces, Gujarat can ensure that its schools, courts, and public spaces remain open, proving that the state’s resilience is stronger than a hoaxer’s email. DeshGujarat