Delhi Police intensified vehicle checking across key entry and exit points in the national capital on Thursday, days after the high-intensity terror blast near the Red Fort that killed ten people and injured more than twenty. Security has been tightened in several zones, with police personnel verifying documents, inspecting vehicles, and increasing patrols following the incident.
Earlier in the day, Home Minister Amit Shah vowed the “strictest possible punishment” for those responsible for the attack, stressing that the blast near the historic monument was an act of cowardice that would be met with a decisive response. During a virtual address at an event in Gujarat’s Mehsana, Shah said the government is determined to send a clear message that no one should dare to attempt such an attack on Indian soil.
The explosion occurred around 6:52 PM on Monday outside the busy Lal Quila Metro Station, sparking a massive fire and destroying multiple vehicles in one of Delhi’s most secure zones. Investigators from the NIA and Forensic Science Laboratory were rushed to the site as authorities confirmed it was being probed as a terror incident.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi visited the injured at Delhi’s LNJP Hospital on Wednesday soon after returning from Bhutan. Later, the Union Cabinet passed a resolution condemning the incident and reaffirmed India’s zero-tolerance stance toward terrorism.
Red Fort blast investigation
The National Investigation Agency has recovered live cartridges and different types of explosives from the site. Investigators believe the prime suspect, Dr Umar Nabi, may have panicked after a multi-state “white-collar” terror module was busted in Faridabad, causing the blast to trigger while he was transporting explosive material in an i20 car.
A DNA test conducted to identify the driver of the car showed a match with Dr Umar Nabi’s mother, confirming his presence at the scene, according to a PTI report.
More updates expected as the investigation continues.
