In the wake of the devastating car explosion near Delhi's iconic Red Fort, the government has officially declared the incident an act of terrorism and passed a resolution condemning the heinous act. The blast, which occurred on Monday evening during rush hour, has claimed the lives of 13 individuals and injured approximately 20 others.
The declaration marks a significant escalation in the government's response, paving the way for counter-terrorism forces to take the lead in the investigation. The National Investigation Agency (NIA), India's premier counter-terror organization, has now taken over the case.
Initial investigations have pointed towards the involvement of Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM), a Pakistan-based militant group. Evidence suggests the attack may have been planned as a revenge strike for the damage inflicted on the outfit's headquarters during Operation Sindoor.
A key suspect has been identified as Dr. Umar Un Nabi, a member of a previously busted terror module, who was present in the car and executed the attack. Dr. Nabi, who had been working at Al-Falah Medical College in Faridabad, had eluded authorities during earlier raids. Prior to the attack, Dr. Nabi and another member of the module had visited the Red Fort in January.
The explosive-laden vehicle, identified as a Hyundai i20, was found to be packed with commercially available explosives, including ammonium nitrate and detonators. CCTV footage revealed the car entering a parking lot in Old Delhi, close to the Red Fort, approximately three hours before the explosion. The driver, believed to be Dr. Nabi, remained inside the vehicle during this time.
Following the blast, security measures have been heightened across Delhi. The Red Fort, metro stations, government buildings, and the international airport have been placed on high alert. Massive checking drives are underway, with police and paramilitary forces deployed at entry and exit points of the city.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi visited the injured survivors at LNJP Hospital on Wednesday, vowing to bring the perpetrators to justice. Home Minister Amit Shah has also asserted that the government will hunt down every individual involved in the terrorist act.
The U.S. Embassy in New Delhi issued an advisory urging American citizens to avoid the area surrounding the Red Fort.
Further investigation revealed that a red Ford EcoSport, potentially linked to Dr. Umar Nabi, was discovered by Faridabad Police near Khandawli village in Haryana. A Central Forensic Science Laboratory team has arrived at the scene to conduct further analysis.
