Delhi car blast case: Home Ministry hands over investigation to NIA

Delhi car blast case: The Ministry of Home Affairs, on Tuesday, handed over the Delhi car blast case to the National Investigation Agency (NIA). At least 13 people were killed on Monday evening in a high-intensity explosion that ripped through a slow-moving Hyundai i20 car near the Red Fort in central Delhi.

The blast occurred around 7 pm at the Subhash Marg traffic signal, damaging nearby vehicles and prompting a nationwide alert.

Delhi Red Fort blast: What we know so far

The blast occurred at the Subhash Marg traffic signal near Gate No. 1 of the Red Fort (Lal Qila) Metro Station, as per the Delhi police.

Several vehicles were gutted – killing at least 13 people.

Track all the latest updates from the Delhi blast here

A report by the Forensic Science Laboratory (FSL) is expected to be released on Tuesday.

Union Home Minister Amit Shah chaired a high-level security review meeting in the wake of the blast. The Home Minister had earlier said that “all possibilities are being explored and a thorough investigation will be conducted, taking all options into account.”

During the meeting, sources said that officials are learnt to discuss the explosive recovery from a house in Faridabad on Monday as it seems interlinked, reported ANI.

Officials reportedly suspect the Delhi blast and the Faridabad recovery may also be part of a larger terror network operating across state lines.

Explosives recovered from Faridabad

On Monday, hours before the blast, Jammu and Kashmir Police, in coordination with the Haryana Police, recovered 360 kg of suspected ammonium nitrate and 2,900 kg of IED-making materials, including chemicals, detonators, and wires, from an apartment in Faridabad.

Police identified and arrested Dr. Muzammil Shakil as the tenant of the Dhauj residence where the explosives and weapons were discovered. Shakil is a MBBS graduate.

During a press conference, Faridabad Police Commissioner Satender Kumar Gupta said Shakil, whose name appeared with varying spellings across reports, was teaching at Al Falah University in Dhauj, reported ANI.

Who all have been arrested so far?

Police have arrested eight people in connection with the alleged terror module.

Among those arrested on Monday were Dr Muzammil Ganaie and Dr Shaheen Sayeed, both connected to the Al Falah university in Faridabad, from where 360 kg of ammonium nitrate was recovered.

According to investigators, Shaheen was leading the Jaish-e-Mohammed’s women recruitment wing in India. She headed the Jamaat-ul-Mominat, the group’s female wing, mentioned a report by PTI.