Terrorists Got Successful Today: Union Minister Jitan Ram Manjhi On Delhi Blast, Triggers Controversy

Union Minister Jitan Ram Manjhi has suggested that the recent explosion in Delhi might be linked to terrorism. The investigation continues as security measures heighten following the incident, which resulted in multiple fatalities and injuries.

Union Minister and HAM President Jitan Ram Manjhi has stirred controversy by suggesting that the Monday Delhi explosion was a terrorist act. This statement comes even as investigative agencies are still determining the cause of the incident.

"Terrorists have been eyeing Delhi for long, they were reports of intrusion. They got successful today. A conspiracy has been going on. Terrorists want to take revenge after Operation Sindoor…" he said while speaking to reporters.

A high-intensity blast occurred in a slow-moving car near the Red Fort metro station on Monday evening, resulting in at least nine fatalities and damaging several vehicles, according to officials. The explosion injured twenty people, including two women, during a busy time when the area was crowded with people. The injured were taken to LNJP Hospital, located a few kilometres away.

Explosion Details and Investigation

The blast took place in a Hyundai i20 car with three occupants. Police are investigating whether it was a suicide bomber attack. "The blast occurred in a moving Hyundai i20 car in which three people were sitting. We have not found any pellet or puncture in the body of the injured, which is unusual in a blast. We are investigating all angles," said a senior police officer.

Eyewitnesses described the explosion as deafening, leaving them unable to hear clearly for several minutes afterward. The loud noise was heard over an extensive area up to ITO, spanning around two kilometres. It shattered window panes of nearby vehicles and glass panels at the Red Fort metro station.

Security Measures and Investigation Progress

The Delhi Police detained Mohd. Salman, the car's owner, for questioning about the vehicle's history. He had sold it to Devendra in Okhla one-and-a-half years ago. The vehicle changed hands multiple times before reaching Tariq in Pulwama. Authorities are tracing these transactions as part of their investigation.

Panic ensued as flames engulfed cars following the explosion. Videos from Chandni Chowk Traders' Association highlighted the blast's severity, showing mangled bodies on vehicles and scattered body parts near the site. Ten fire tenders responded quickly, containing the blaze by 7:29 pm.

Authorities' Response and Security Alert

Delhi Police Commissioner Satish Golcha inspected the site and reported that there was a blast around 6:52 pm at a traffic signal near Red Fort metro station involving passengers inside a vehicle. Other vehicles were also affected by this incident.

All relevant agencies, including Delhi Police, Forensic Science Laboratory, National Investigation Agency (NIA), and National Security Guard (NSG), have arrived to assess the situation thoroughly.

The explosion coincided with another significant event: authorities recovered approximately 360 kg of suspected ammonium nitrate along with arms and ammunition from a Kashmiri doctor's rented accommodation in Faridabad, close to Delhi's border.

A high alert has been issued across Delhi with increased security measures at city border points and intensified vehicle checks to ensure public safety following these incidents.

With inputs from PTI