Delhi blast: The Delhi Police has registered a case in connection with the blast near the city’s historic Red Fort under various sections of the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA), Explosives Act and Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS).
“A case has been registered under Sections 16, 18 of Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA) and various sections of Explosives Act and BNS at Kotwali police station,” Delhi Police said.
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The development means the Delhi Police is officially probing the terror angle in the blast.
The UAPA allows for the investigation and prosecution of individuals and associations involved in illegal activities against the state, such as financing terrorism or inciting anti-national sentiment. The Explosives Act regulates the manufacture, possession, use, sale, transportation, import and export of explosives in India to ensure public safety and prevent misuse.
At least eight people lost their lives and several others were injured in the blast.
Earlier, Union Home Minister Amit Shah, who visited the site and the hospital, said an explosion occurred in a Hyundai i20 car at the Subhash Marg traffic light near Red Fort in Delhi at 7 pm on Monday and the blast injured some pedestrians and damaged some vehicles.
“An explosion occurred in a Hyundai i20 car at Subhash Marg traffic light near Red Fort in Delhi this evening at around 7 pm. The explosion injured several pedestrians and damaged some vehicles. Preliminary reports indicate that some people lost their lives. Within 10 minutes of receiving information about the blast, teams from Delhi Crime Branch and Delhi Shah Special Branch reached the spot,” they said.
The police arrested the former owner of the car involved in the explosion on Monday evening.
“I have also spoken to the Delhi CP and the in-charge special branch. The Delhi CP and the in-charge special branch are present at the spot. We are looking into all options and will conduct a thorough investigation considering all options. All options will be investigated immediately and the results will be presented to the public,” he added.
Sandeep Kumar, spokesperson for the Gurugram police, said the car used in the blast was initially registered to a Gurugram resident identified as Salman. “About a year and a half ago, he sold the vehicle to a man named Devender, a resident of Okhla. We have handed over Salman to the Delhi Police. Devender has been arrested by the Delhi Police and both are being interrogated to trace the subsequent sale and establish the complete chain of ownership,” Kumar said.
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Earlier, Delhi Police Commissioner Satish Golcha said a slow-moving vehicle stopped at a red light in an area near the Red Fort Metro station in the national capital and an explosion occurred in that vehicle, damaging nearby vehicles.
“A slow-moving vehicle stopped at a red light today around 6:52 p.m. There was an explosion in that vehicle and surrounding vehicles were also damaged due to the explosion. All agencies, FSL, NIA are here… Some people died in the incident, some were injured. The situation is being monitored,” he said.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi took stock of the situation after the blast in Delhi and spoke to Home Minister Amit Shah, government sources said on Monday.
The blast occurred in a Hyundai i20 car at the Subhash Marg traffic light near Red Fort in Delhi.
The Medical Superintendent of LNJP Hospital told ANI that the condition of one of the injured is stable.
“Fifteen people were taken to Lok Nayak Hospital. Eight of them died before reaching the hospital. Three are seriously injured. One is in a stable condition,” he said.
