Exam cancelled after bomb hoax at Malad college

Students of Class 11 at MD Shah Mahila Mahavidyalaya in Malad (west) had to go home without answering their economics final exam paper on Thursday after the college received a call about a bomb on the premises. HT reports.

Students of Class 11 at MD Shah Mahila Mahavidyalaya in Malad (west) had to go home without answering their economics final exam paper on Thursday after the college received a call about a bomb on the premises.

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Malad police said the college phone operator, Bhavna Visvadia, got the call around 12.45 pm and informed college authorities, who in turn informed the police. The exam was cancelled and the 350-odd students were evacuated from the building and told to go home.

“We took all safety precautions and sent the girls home,” said Deepa Sharma, principal of the college. “We informed the police about the incident, and they are working on it. We still do not know who made the call.”

A bomb detection and disposal squad (BDDS) and a dog squad were pressed into action. The BDDS and dog squad conducted a thorough search of the college premises, which lasted nearly 90 minutes. But, they found nothing suspicious, and declared the college safe.

“They suspect a student from the college made the call. Efforts are being made to track down the caller,” said a police officer investigating the case. The Mumbai crime branch is conducting a parallel investigation into the case.

The Class 11 final exams began on February 23 and will continue as per schedule.

“The new date for the economics paper will be announced the day after tomorrow,” the principal said.