On Monday evening, the capital city of Delhi once again plunged into panic. At precisely 6:52 PM, a massive explosion erupted near the Red Fort Metro Station, its reverberations echoing far and wide. The aftermath saw chaos at the scene as the police confirmed 8 people had died, with 20 others injured. Those wounded were rushed to Lok Nayak Jai Prakash Hospital, where many are still battling for survival. Home Minister Amit Shah visited the hospital to inquire about the injured and collected reports from the officials on the ground.
List of Injured and Deceased
1. Shaina Parveen, daughter of Mohammed Saifullah, Khwab Basti, Mirf Road, Shakur ki Dandi, Delhi (Injured)
2. Harshul, son of Sanjeev Sethi, Gadarpur, Uttarakhand (Injured)
3. Shiva Jaiswal, son of unknown, Deoria, Uttar Pradesh (Injured)
4. Sameer, son of unknown, Mandawali, Delhi - (Injured)
5. Joginder, son of unknown, Nand Nagri, Dilshad Garden, Delhi (Injured)
6. Bhawani Shankar Sharma, son of unknown, Sangam Vihar, Delhi (Injured)
7. Unknown (Deceased)
8. Geeta, daughter of Shiv Prasad, Krishna Vihar, Delhi (Injured)
9. Vinay Pathak, son of Ramkant Pathak, Aya Nagar, Delhi (Injured)
10. Pappu, son of Doodhi Ram, Agra, Uttar Pradesh (Injured)
11. Vinod, son of Vishal Singh, Batjeet Nagar, Delhi (Injured)
12. Shivam Jha, son of Santosh Jha, Usmanpur, Delhi (Injured)
13. Unknown (amaan) (Injured)
14. Mohammed Shehnawaz, son of Ahmad Zaman, Darya Ganj, Delhi (Injured)
15. Ankush Sharma, son of Sudhir Sharma, East Rohtash Nagar, Shahdara (Injured)
16. Ashok Kumar, son of Jagbansh Singh, Hasanpur, Amroha (Uttar Pradesh) (Deceased)
17. Unknown (Deceased)
18. Mohammed Farukh, son of Abdul Qadir, Darya Ganj, Delhi (Injured)
19. Tilak Raj, son of Kishan Chand, Rohampur, Himachal Pradesh (Injured)
20. Unknown (Injured)
21. Unknown (Deceased)
22. Unknown (Deceased)
23. Unknown (Deceased)
24. Mohammed Safwan, son of Mohammed Gufran, Sita Ram Bazaar, Delhi (Injured)
25. Unknown (Deceased)
26. Mohammed Daoud, son of Januddin, Ashok Vihar, Loni, Ghaziabad (Injured)
27. Kishore Lal, son of Mohan Lal, Yamuna Bazaar, Kashmiri Gate, Delhi (Injured)
28. Azad, son of Rasooluddin, Panchvi Pushta, Kartar Nagar, Delhi (Injured)
Doctors have so far confirmed the deaths of 8 people.
Eyewitness Accounts of the Incident
The explosion was so intense that 5 to 6 vehicles parked nearby were shattered. Eyewitnesses reported a sudden blast near an Eco van. Nearby shops and vehicles had their windows destroyed. Initial investigation by the police points to a high-intensity blast, though they have yet to officially identify the cause or perpetrators.
Source: aajtak
2,900 Kg of Explosive Material Found Earlier
Earlier that Monday morning, Jammu and Kashmir, alongside Faridabad police, seized 2,900 kg of bomb-making chemicals, weapons, and ammunition in a joint operation. This crackdown disrupted an inter-state terror network associated with Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM) and Ansar Ghazwat-ul-Hind (AGuH). This raises a critical question for investigators: Is there a link between this seizure and the Red Fort blast? Could the Delhi explosion be related to the network uncovered earlier in Jammu and Faridabad? Though the NIA and Delhi Police have refrained from official comments, both are examining every angle.
Network Spanning from Jammu to Faridabad
According to Jammu and Kashmir Police, two doctors are among the seven arrested suspects. Dr. Muazzamil Ahmed Ganai (from Faridabad) and Dr. Adil (resident of Kulgam), along with Arif Nisar Dar aka Sahil, Yasir-ul-Ashraf, Maqsood Ahmed Dar aka Shahid, Maulvi Irfan Ahmed (Shopian), and Jameer Ahmad Ahangar (Ganderbal) have been captured. From Dr. Muazzamil’s rented house in Faridabad, 360 kg of ammonium nitrate, an AK-56 rifle, Beretta, and Chinese pistols were recovered. Police have termed this a 'white-collar' terror network, involving educated professionals aiding terror with technological and financial support under the guise of social networks and NGOs.
High Alert in Delhi, NIA on Scene
Immediately after the blast, Delhi Police declared a high alert throughout the city. NIA, Special Cell, and forensic teams arrived at the site to collect samples. Delhi Police Commissioner Satish Golcha personally surveyed the scene. Home Minister Amit Shah is being constantly briefed on the developments. Prime Minister Narendra Modi has also been in touch with Amit Shah.
The Jaish Angle Deepens
The proximity in time between the seizure in Jammu and the Delhi explosion has heightened agency concerns. Sources suggest that the arrested suspects were active sleeper cell members of Jaish-e-Mohammed, influencing youth through educational institutions. Agencies suspect part of the seized chemical reached Delhi and was used in this blast.
Direction of Investigation
A joint team of NIA and Delhi Police has started examining the area's CCTV footage. The footage shows a white Eco van moments before the explosion. The vehicle’s origin and ownership are under investigation. The blast residues have been sent to the CFSL lab to determine the exact nature of the chemicals. Additionally, a search for suspicious vehicles along the Delhi-Haryana border has begun.
Operation Under Home Ministry's Supervision
Home Minister Amit Shah held an emergency meeting with NIA, IB, and Delhi Police officials late that night. Sources reveal Shah has ordered intensified search operations in Delhi and nearby states, rigorous monitoring of social media and darknet platforms, and immediate action against any suspicious activity.
