The trail of Monday evening’s deadly blast near Delhi’s Red Fort appears to be pointing towards a possible terror link, with investigators confirming that the Hyundai i20 car involved in the explosion was registered in Gurugram North, Haryana (HR 26).
The blast, which occurred at around 6:52 p.m. near Gate No. 1 of the Lal Qila Metro Station, close to the historic Gauri Shankar Mandir and a Jain Temple, killed ten people and injured over a dozen others.
The explosion was so intense that it set three other vehicles ablaze and shattered windows of nearby shops. According to Delhi Police sources, three people were inside the ill-fated car when the blast occurred. “We are tracing the car’s registration and last movements before the explosion,” a senior officer said, adding that the Forensic Science Laboratory (FSL) and National Security Guard (NSG) are analyzing residue samples from the site.
Union Home Minister Amit Shah has taken direct charge of the situation, speaking to Delhi Police Commissioner Satish Golcha and instructing multiple agencies to coordinate the probe. Teams from the National Investigation Agency (NIA), Special Cell, and Crime Branch have joined the investigation, with CCTV footage from nearby areas already being reviewed.
Eyewitnesses said a “loud bang” was followed by a massive fireball engulfing the car. Fire officials confirmed that seven tenders were deployed to douse the flames. The injured have been rushed to LNJP Hospital, while a high alert has been declared across the national capital.
Explosives trail in Haryana deepens suspicion
Adding to the intrigue, just eight hours before the Red Fort blast, Haryana Police and central agencies had intercepted a massive terror cache in Faridabad, recovering nearly 2,900 kilograms of explosive material, along with detonators, assault weapons, and communication devices.
The Faridabad raid, carried out jointly by the Intelligence Bureau (IB), Haryana ATS, and NIA, led to the arrest of several individuals, including two doctors from Al Falah Hospital, a cleric from Mewat, and multiple suspected operatives linked to Jaish-e-Mohammad (JeM). Officials described the network as a “medical-terror nexus,” with trained professionals allegedly providing logistical support and safe houses for assembling improvised explosive devices (IEDs).
Investigators are now examining whether the Red Fort blast and the Faridabad haul are connected. The registration of the Red Fort blast vehicle in Haryana, the same state from which the explosives were seized, is too close to be a coincidence.
The proximity in timing and the nature of the materials used have led central agencies to suspect a coordinated terror module spanning multiple districts of Haryana and Delhi.
Security agencies on high alert
As Delhi reels from the shock of the Red Fort explosion, multiple metro stations, key temples, and heritage sites have come under enhanced security cover. Sniffer dogs and anti-sabotage teams are scanning high-footfall zones, while interstate borders with Haryana and Uttar Pradesh are being checked for suspicious movements.
Preliminary forensic assessment suggests that the blast originated from the rear section of the vehicle, consistent with the placement of an explosive device. Whether the car was being used for transportation or as a mobile IED remains under investigation.
