Twelve people lost their lives in a bomb blast in a car on the main road in front of the historic Red Fort in the capital Delhi on Monday evening. Initial investigations revealed that this was a terrorist act carried out in the manner of a suicide attack. Given the potential for a larger conspiracy by terrorist organizations and the wide scope of the attack, the investigation has been handed over to the National Investigation Agency.

The blast occurred at around 7 pm on Monday evening, in a moving car at a traffic signal outside Gate No. 1 of the Red Fort Metro Station. The explosion was so powerful that its sound was heard far and wide, the tremor was felt in the surrounding area. The blast also damaged other nearby vehicles, and people at the scene saw high flames rising from a distance.

Initially, eight people were reported dead and several others injured in the attack. All were taken to the nearby Lok Nayak Jayaprakash Narayan Hospital. The death toll has risen as more injured succumbed to their injuries. Currently, the Red Fort Metro Station has been closed, while the Red Fort has been temporarily closed to visitors for three days. A local shopkeepers’ association has announced that the Chandni Chowk main market will also be closed on Tuesday.

Decision to hand over the investigation  to NIA:
A day after the explosion outside the Red Fort, the union government has decided to hand over the investigation to the National Investigation Agency. This decision was taken during a high-level security review meeting chaired by Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Tuesday morning at his official residence.

Union Home Secretary Govind Mohan, Intelligence Bureau Director Tapan Kumar Deka, Delhi Police Commissioner Satish Golcha and National Investigation Agency Director General Sadanand Vasant Date attended the meeting. Jammu and Kashmir Director General of Police Nalin Prabhat also joined the meeting virtually.

Investigation so far:
Initial investigations and footage obtained from closed-circuit TV cameras, installed in the surrounding area,  indicate that the explosion occurred in a Hyundai i20 car that was parked nearby for a considerable period. A person was inside the car, who likely remained seated in the car for a considerable period before reaching the spot . The man has been identified as Dr. Mohammad Umar, a resident of Pulwama, Jammu and Kashmir.

The Delhi 10/11 terrorist attack is linked to the case of explosive material recovered in Haryana recently. Initial investigations have led agencies to conclude that this is a major conspiracy, with a network of individuals involved in the attack spanning Jammu and Kashmir, Delhi, Haryana, Uttar Pradesh, Gujarat, and other locations.

Several people have been detained for questioning. In addition to the Delhi Police, officials from other states are also investigating and assessing the incident’s links to their respective states. Experts from various agencies were involved in the investigation.

Extra Vigilance:
In light of the Delhi blasts and the widespread conspiracy, instructions have been issued to implement additional security measures and maintain heightened vigilance at sensitive locations across the country.

PM Modi’s message: 

Prime Minister Narendra Modi condemned the incident and expressed condolences to the families of the deceased. He stated that those responsible for the incident would not be spared. He released this message on social media.  Mr. Modi arrived in Bhutan on Tuesday for an event. While mentioning the incident Mr. Modi said , “I have come here today with a heavy heart. The horrific incident that occurred in Delhi yesterday evening has deeply saddened everyone. I understand the grief of the affected families. Today, the entire nation stands with them. I assure that the culprits will not be spared.”

LG Saxena reaches hospital:
Meanwhile, Delhi Lieutenant Governor V.K. Saxena returned from his Gujarat tour. He visited the Lok Narayan Jai Prakash Narayan Hospital (LNJP) to inquire about the well-being of the injured.