In a significant breakthrough in the Delhi blast case that shook the capital, the Delhi Police on Tuesday recovered the detailed 11-hour route map of the Hyundai i20 car involved in the explosion near Lal Quila Metro station. The Monday evening blast claimed at least eight lives and left several others injured, triggering massive security operations across the city.
Security Review and Investigation Updates
Union Home Minister Amit Shah arrived at the Ministry of Home Affairs at Kartavya Bhawan to chair another round of security review meetings following the Red Fort blast case. The high-level meeting focused on strengthening security measures and coordinating investigation efforts among multiple agencies.
According to investigation details, the suspect vehicle had left Faridabad for the Red Fort around 11 hours before the incident, passing through multiple locations during its extended journey. CCTV footage showed the car was first spotted outside Asian Hospital in Faridabad at approximately 7:30 a.m. on Monday, as reported by ANI.
The vehicle's movement timeline reveals it crossed the Badarpur toll plaza and entered Delhi at 8:13 am. Just seven minutes later, at 8:20 am, the car was spotted near a petrol pump close to the Okhla Industrial Area. The car entered the parking area near the Red Fort complex at 3:19 pm, where it remained parked for around three hours before exiting at 6:22 pm and moving toward the Red Fort.
Fidayeen Attack Theory Emerges
In a crucial development, Delhi Police's initial investigation suggests the high-intensity explosion near the Red Fort complex may have been a fidayeen attack. Sources within the Delhi Police told ANI on Tuesday that according to early findings, investigators believe the suspect intended to carry out an explosion and shifted to planning a fidayeen-style operation after learning that a Faridabad module had been busted.
"The suspect apparently planned the fidayeen-style operation to maximise casualties and avoid capture by police," the sources added. Investigators are also probing whether the actual target of the attack was at another location, given that the car was moving slowly at the time of explosion. All possible angles are being examined thoroughly.
A fidayeen attack refers to a suicide-style assault carried out by heavily armed militants who intend to fight to the death, often with little regard for escape or survival. The term originates from Arabic "fedayeen" meaning "those who sacrifice themselves."
Multiple Agencies Join Investigation
The investigation has seen significant coordination between various security agencies. The Jammu and Kashmir and Haryana Police had jointly recovered 360 kg of explosive material and ammunition from Haryana's Faridabad and apprehended two persons, Dr Muzammil and Aadil Rather, in the matter on early Monday.
Several agencies, including the Delhi Police, FSL and others, are carrying out investigation at the spot. The Rapid Action Force (RAF) has been deployed at the blast site near the Red Fort, where the explosion took place in the Hyundai i20 car on Monday evening at around 7 pm.
Investigators have made substantial progress using CCTV footage and data analysis from the dump, which have emerged as crucial leads. More than 100 CCTV clips, including footage from nearby toll plazas, are being reviewed to map the vehicle's entire movement. The route towards Daryaganj is under particular scrutiny.
Technical analysis includes examination of communication records and social media activity following the blast. Data from all mobile phones active in the vicinity of the Red Fort complex at the time of explosion is being examined to identify numbers connected to the car blast and reveal communication between suspects and possible accomplices.
The explosion near the historic Red Fort complex not only claimed lives and caused injuries but also triggered panic in the area, leading to immediate evacuation of visitors and sealing of the premises. Teams from the Special Cell, Crime Branch, and Forensic Science Laboratory continue their investigation as the nation awaits answers about this tragic incident.
