New Delhi: A chilling new twist has emerged in the Red Fort car blast case as forensic experts have confirmed that ammonium nitrate, fuel oil, and detonators were used to trigger the deadly explosion that ripped through a Hyundai i20 near Delhi’s Red Fort Metro Station on Monday evening, killing eight people and injuring at least 24 others.
Preliminary findings point to a meticulously planned operation, though officials have withheld a final confirmation pending a detailed forensic report. “All possibilities are being explored. The Delhi Police Commissioner and Special Branch officers are on-site. The investigation will be thorough, and findings will be shared with the public,” the Home Minister said late Monday.
Fidayeen-style Attack Suspected
Security agencies now suspect the blast may have been part of a fidayeen-style terror plot, possibly linked to Pakistan-based groups. Sources told India TV that the National Investigation Agency (NIA) and the National Security Guard (NSG) are probing multiple angles, including a possible Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM) or Ansar Ghazwat-ul-Hind (AGuH) connection.
The explosion, which occurred around 6:55 pm, sent shockwaves through Old Delhi as the car erupted in flames near Gate No. 1 of the Red Fort Metro Station, torching nearby vehicles and sparking panic among evening commuters. Eyewitnesses described scenes of chaos as flames leapt from the burning cars, setting off secondary fires and injuring several bystanders.
“I heard a massive bang and saw a car go up in flames. Within seconds, taxis and rickshaws nearby caught fire,” said Dharmender, a resident of Greater Noida who was shopping in the area.
Car Changed Hands Four Times Without Paperwork
Investigators have traced the Hyundai i20’s murky ownership trail, discovering that the vehicle — bearing the registration number HR26CE7674 — had changed hands four times since 2014 without proper documentation.
The car was first owned by Salman, who sold it to Devendra, then to Sonu, and finally to Tariq — none of whom officially transferred ownership through the government’s vehicle registration system.
One transaction reportedly involved a Faridabad-based car dealer, raising suspicion about possible illegal dealings. Records show the vehicle was last sighted in Faridabad on September 20, with an unpaid challan for improper parking.
Pulwama Doctor Under Scanner
Adding another alarming layer, investigators have identified the current owner as Dr. Umar Mohammed, a Pulwama-based physician allegedly linked to a terror module recently busted by the Jammu & Kashmir and Haryana Police. The module was reportedly connected to Jaish-e-Mohammed and al-Qaeda affiliate Ansar Ghazwat-ul-Hind.
The arrests of two other doctors from the same network during a Faridabad raid hours before the blast have intensified suspicions of a coordinated plot.
Nationwide Security Alert
Following the explosion, security has been tightened across India, with special checks at major metro stations, airports, and inter-state highways. Vehicle inspections have been ramped up in Delhi, Maharashtra, Uttar Pradesh, West Bengal, and Punjab, while forensic teams continue combing through CCTV footage near the blast site.
The Red Fort area, a historic and heavily guarded zone, remains sealed off as investigators search for forensic clues and possible surveillance evidence.
