Panic and chaos have swept through Old Delhi on Monday evening after a powerful explosion occurred near Red Fort Metro Station which killed at least 13 people and injured several others. The blast, which occurred in a moving Hyundai i20, sent shockwaves across the capital, damaging nearby vehicles and sparking a massive fire near Gate No. 1 of Lal Qila Metro Station.
According to Delhi Police Commissioner Satish Golcha, the vehicle was slowing down at a red light when it suddenly exploded, setting off a chain of destruction. “An explosion happened in that vehicle, and due to the impact, nearby cars were also damaged,” he said.
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Authorities have registered a case under sections of the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA) and the Explosives Act, confirming that the incident is being treated as a terror attack.
A chain of arrests and forensic clues
The explosion came just hours after the arrest of two doctors, Dr. Mujammil Shakeel and Dr. Adil Ahmad Rather, in a joint operation by Jammu & Kashmir and Haryana Police with assistance from the Intelligence Bureau (IB). Around 350 kg of explosive material and a cache of weapons were recovered from Mujammil’s Faridabad residence.
Investigators have identified Dr. Umar Mohammad who is a Pulwama resident, as the suspected mastermind. The CCTV footage reportedly shows him driving the same Hyundai i20 that later got exploded.
The probe also led to the detention of three more doctors from Al-Falah University in Faridabad, which is now under investigation for possible links to the blast. Reports suggest the car had been parked on the campus for 11 days before the explosion.
Blast linked to JeM Module
Preliminary findings indicate that the attack was orchestrated by a Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM) module to avenge losses from Operation Sindoor, which targeted the group’s Bahawalpur base earlier this year. Forensic teams have recovered over 40 samples, including traces of ammonium nitrate and another high-grade explosive.
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Prime Minister Narendra Modi visited LNJP Hospital on Wednesday to meet the injured victims, he posted on this X, assuring that those responsible “will be brought to justice.” Meanwhile, Delhi Chief Minister Rekha Gupta announced compensation of ₹10 lakh for the deceased, ₹5 lakh for the disabled, and ₹2 lakh for the injured.
The National Investigation Agency (NIA) has officially taken over the probe, with raids continuing all across Delhi, Faridabad and multiple districts in Jammu & Kashmir.
