Delhi Red Fort car blast investigation checks links to Kashmir arrests and explosives seizure
Three days after a car exploded near the Red Fort in the Indian capital, Delhi, killing eight people, investigators are checking for potential links to recent arrests and the seizure of explosives.
Investigators have confirmed to media outlets that they are checking for any connections to the recent arrests of seven men by police in Indian-administered Kashmir, as well as the seizure of 2,900kg of explosives from Faridabad, a Delhi suburb.
Official Reaction and Investigation
The federal cabinet issued a resolution calling the incident "a heinous terror incident, perpetrated by anti-national forces." This reaction matched earlier comments from Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who spoke of a "conspiracy" and warned that "the conspirators will not be spared."
Defence Minister Rajnath Singh and Home Minister Amit Shah echoed these sentiments, with Shah instructing officials "to hunt down each and every culprit behind this incident."
Police confirmed that cases have been registered under the anti-terror law Unlawful Activities Prevention Act (UAPA), in addition to the Explosives Act and criminal code. The investigation has been handed over to the National Investigation Agency (NIA), India's counter-terrorism law enforcement agency.
The police and NIA have not yet held a press conference or issued a formal statement on the investigation's progress.
Unanswered Questions and Unverified Information
The central question being investigated is the connection between the explosion and the recent arrests and seizure. Just hours before the blast, police in the Indian federal territory of Jammu and Kashmir released a statement naming the arrested men, who included two doctors from Kashmir, Uttar Pradesh, and Haryana. They confirmed the seizure of weapons and the 2,900kg of bomb-making material from Faridabad, speaking of a "white collar terror ecosystem."
The NIA stated they have just taken over the Delhi blast case and are examining "voluminous documents," but are investigating every angle, including potential linkages between the arrests and an unverified man described in media reports as the car's alleged driver. Media reports claimed the man drove around the city for hours and was parked nearby for three hours before the blast, though these details remain unconfirmed.
The explosion took place at 18:52 local time (13:22 GMT) when a slow-moving white Hyundai i20 stopped at a busy traffic signal and was consumed by fire. The iconic Red Fort remains closed as the investigation proceeds.
