Delhi Red Fort blast a terror incident, says Cabinet

In the first official statement, the Government of India on Wednesday evening called Delhi’s Red Fort blast a “terrorist incident”.

The Union Cabinet chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi dubbed the blast a “heinous terror incident perpetrated by anti-national forces”.

“The Cabinet reiterates India’s unwavering commitment to a policy of zero tolerance towards terrorism in all its forms and manifestations,” the statement said.

ALSO READ: Jaish posters in Kashmir led agencies to Faridabad terror module — suspected for Delhi blast

The death toll in the blast has risen to 13 as another person has succumbed to injuries. Several others currently remain under treatment.

A slow-moving vehicle on Monday stopped at a traffic light near Red Fort Metro Station at around 6:52 pm and exploded, damaging nearby vehicles and people in the vicinity.

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The person driving the vehicle has been identified as Umar Un Nabi, a doctor linked to the 'white collar' terrorist module busted in a counterterrorism operation stretching from Jammu and Kashmir to Haryana to Uttar Pradesh.

“A DNA test has confirmed that the man who carried out the blast near Red Fort was Dr Umar Un Nabi. After the blast, his leg was stuck between the steering wheel and accelerator. His DNA sample matched with his mother,” the Delhi Police said in a statement on Thursday.

Initially, the Delhi Police had begun investigating the case an act of terror by registering a case under terrorism-related sections of the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA), 1967. Later, the Centre handed the case to the National Investigation Agency (NIA).

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In the white terrorist module’s case, the investigation began last month when Jaish-e-Mohammed’s (JeM) posters appeared in Bunpora, Nowgam, and Srinagar in J&K that threatened and intimidated police and security forces. The subsequent police investigation led investigators on the trail that led to the arrest of seven people, including Muzammil Ahmad Ganaie in Haryana’s Faridabad, and recovery of around 2,900 kilograms of explosives.

It is understood that Umar, who was driving the car when it exploded, had escaped while his associates were nabbed at Faridabad.