Country stands with victims, perpetrators won’t be spared, says PM Modi

HM Shah chairs multiple meetings, directs for hunting down every culprit    

Those responsible for tragedy will not be let off: Rajnath Singh

New Delhi : As the investigations revealed that a doctor from South Kashmir’s Pulwama district was driving the explosive laden car that killed more than 10 persons near Red Fort in Delhi on Monday evening, the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) handed over the case to National Investigation Agency for probe.

According to the details available with the news agency—Kashmir New Observer (KNO), the case was given to NIA under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act, the Explosive Substances Act, and sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita related to murder and conspiracy.

An official said that the investigators have traced the car, a white Hyundai i20, to Dr Umar Mohammad, a Pulwama-based medical professional. “Preliminary findings suggest that Dr. Umar drove the vehicle laden with Ammonium Nitrate Fuel Oil (ANFO) and detonators before it exploded near the Red Fort,” he added.

“His remains are believed to be among those recovered from the site. DNA samples from his family were collected in Pulwama to confirm his identity,” the official said.

Pertinently, a few days before the blast, J&K, Haryana and UP Police had recovered a major cache of explosives, nearly 2,900 kg during a raid in Faridabad. Two Kashmiri-origin doctors were detained from Al Falah University in connection with that operation. “Dr Umar was associated with those arrested and may have gone ahead with the attack fearing imminent arrest,” said an official.

Security agencies have detained another doctor, Dr Sajad Ahmad Malla from Pulwama, for questioning. Several others affiliated with Al Falah University have also been taken into custody.

Searches continued in multiple areas of Delhi, Faridabad, and Jammu & Kashmir. Investigators said the group planned a larger series of strikes that were disrupted by the earlier seizures in Haryana.

Forensic teams confirmed the use of high-intensity explosives similar to those found in Faridabad. CCTV footage shows the car entering Delhi from Badarpur and circulating around the Red Fort before the explosion around 6:50 PM. Police suspect a suicide-style operation designed to cause maximum damage.

Meanwhile, Prime Minister Narendra Modi, speaking in Bhutan, said the country stands with the victims and that the perpetrators “will not be spared.”

AMIT SHAH CHAIRS SEVERAL MEETINGS

Meanwhile, Union Home Minister Amit Shah chaired several review meetings throughout the day with top security officials in New Delhi on Tuesday.

The first meeting was attended by the Union Home Secretary, Director Intelligence Bureau, Director General of the National Investigation Agency, and Commissioner of Police of Delhi. The Director General of Jammu and Kashmir Police (DGP) Nalin Prabhat joined the meeting via video conference.

The second meeting was attended by Union Home Secretary, Director, Intelligence Bureau, Director General of the National Security Guards (NSG), Director General, National Investigation Agency (NIA), Director Forensic Science Services, Chief Director of Forensic Science Laboratory, Delhi and other senior officials.

After chairing the meetings, the Union Home Minister in his post on ‘X’ said, “Chaired review meetings on the Delhi car blast with the senior officials. Instructed them to hunt down each and every culprit behind this incident. Everyone involved in this act will face the full wrath of our agencies.”

PERPETRATORS WILL BE BROUGHT TO JUSTICE: RAJNATH SINGH 

Defence Minister Rajanth Singh assured the people that perpetrators will be brought to justice. “I wish to assure my fellow citizens that the country’s leading investigative agencies are conducting a swift and thorough inquiry into the incident. The findings of the investigation will soon be made public. I want to firmly assure the nation that those responsible for this tragedy will be brought to justice and will not be spared under any circumstances,” Singh wrote on X.

Over 500 officials have been deployed for the investigation. More than 1,000 CCTV clips are being analysed, and mobile phone dump data from the Red Fort area is under examination to trace communications linked to the blast.

High alert has been sounded in Delhi, Jammu and Kashmir, Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, and Maharashtra. NSG commandos are deployed at key installations, and additional security has been placed around metro stations and religious sites.