Union Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw said the government described the incident as a “heinous act perpetrated by anti-national forces,” reaffirming India’s zero-tolerance policy toward terrorism. The Cabinet also reviewed intelligence inputs linking the attack to Pakistan-based terror group Jaish-e-Mohammed.
The explosion occurred around 6:52 pm on Monday, when a car detonated just meters from the Red Fort complex. Investigators later identified the vehicle as a red Ford EcoSport (DL10 CK 0458), registered in the name of Dr. Umar Un Nabi, a 28-year-old doctor from Pulwama, Kashmir. Police said Umar died in the blast, which they believe was triggered accidentally while he was assembling a vehicle-borne improvised explosive device (VBIED).
Officials suspect the terror module had been plotting coordinated attacks in three cities on December 6, aiming to replicate the scale of the 26/11 Mumbai assault. The plan reportedly collapsed after the arrest of Dr. Muzammil Shakeel Ganaie, a teacher at Al Falah University, earlier this month.
Following the blast, Delhi Police evacuated homes near the recovered vehicle and deployed the bomb disposal squad. Search alerts have been issued across Delhi, Haryana, and Uttar Pradesh.
Prime Minister Modi, who returned from Bhutan on Wednesday afternoon, visited LNJP Hospital to meet the injured and review their treatment. Authorities have collected DNA samples from Umar’s family to confirm his identity as investigations continue into the wider terror network.
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