NEW DELHI: Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday called a deadly car explosion in the heart of the capital a “conspiracy”, vowing those responsible will face justice.
Police are yet to give exact details of what caused Monday’s incident near the historic Red Fort, one of India’s most well-known landmarks, and the site of the prime minister’s annual Independence Day speech.
The blast killed at least eight people, and 19 others were injured when flames ripped through several vehicles. It was the first significant security incident since a shooting attack in late April left 26 people, mainly Hindus, dead at the tourist site of Pahalgam in Indian-administered Kashmir.
“I assure everyone that the agencies will get to the bottom of the entire conspiracy,” Modi said in a speech during a state visit to neighbouring Bhutan, without giving further details.
“All those involved will be brought to justice,” he said.
Indian authorities have stopped short of calling the blast an attack, saying they were awaiting forensic analysis. But on Tuesday, the home affairs ministry said that India’s anti-terrorism force, the National Investigation Agency, are leading the probe. Monday’s explosion came hours after Indian police said they had arrested a gang and seized explosive materials and assault rifles. Police said the men were linked with Jaish-e-Mohammed and Ansar Ghazwat-ul-Hind.
Home Minister Amit Shah, after chairing security talks following the blast, said he had instructed officials “to hunt down each and every culprit behind this incident”. “Everyone involved in this act will face the full wrath of our agencies,” he added in a statement.
New Delhi’s deputy chief fire officer AK Malik told AFP shortly after the explosion that eight people had been killed. The Press Trust of India news agency reported on Tuesday that the death toll had risen to 12, although that figure has not been confirmed.
Deputy Commissioner of Police Raja Banthia said Delhi police had registered a case under the anti-terrorism law as well as the explosives act and other criminal laws. The law, called the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act, is India’s main anti-terrorism law. It is used to investigate and prosecute acts related to “terrorism” and activities that threaten the sovereignty and integrity of the country. “Investigation is at a preliminary stage and any comment on it will be too premature,” Banthia told reporters.
Near the site of the blast in the city’s old quarters, a busy market and tourist area, most shops that shut soon after the explosion were yet to open in the early hours of Tuesday. Forensic experts were seen scouring the site of the blast, which has been sealed since Monday night and enclosed in white cloth barriers. Delhi Metro said the Red Fort station had been shut for security reasons. Defence Minister Rajnath Singh said agencies were carrying out a swift, thorough investigation with the findings to be made public soon.
