Union Home Minister Amit Shah has taken decisive action following the devastating car explosion near Delhi's historic Red Fort, directing the National Investigation Agency (NIA) to submit its report at the earliest while ordering forensic experts to match samples collected from the blast victims.
High-Level Security Meetings Prompt NIA Takeover
The decision to transfer the investigation to India's premier anti-terror agency came after two consecutive high-level security review meetings chaired by Shah at his residence on Tuesday. The explosion in a Hyundai i-20 car near the iconic monument claimed at least nine lives and left several others injured, marking the first major blast in the national capital in 13 years.
"The MHA has issued orders for handing over the investigation of the car blast case to the NIA. The NIA, which has been associated with the local police since Monday, has started the process of formally taking over the case," confirmed an NIA spokesperson.
Evidence Collection and Forensic Analysis
According to NIA sources, the agency has already secured crucial evidence from the blast site, including the Hyundai i-20 vehicle that was at the center of the explosion. Forensic Science Laboratory experts have received specific instructions from the Home Minister to meticulously match specimens collected from the blast site with those obtained from the bodies recovered from the car.
Security agencies have conducted raids across multiple locations in Delhi-NCR and Jammu and Kashmir's Pulwama district, recovering significant quantities of explosives. Preliminary investigations suggest that the suspect may have acted hastily under mounting pressure from these security operations.
Comprehensive Security Response
The first high-level meeting witnessed participation from key security and intelligence officials, including Union Home Secretary Govind Mohan, Intelligence Bureau Director Tapan Deka, Delhi Police Commissioner Satish Golcha, and NIA Director General Sadanand Vasant Date. Jammu and Kashmir Police chief Nalin Prabhat joined the discussion virtually.
The second meeting expanded to include forensic experts, with the director of Forensic Science Services and chief director of Delhi's Forensic Science Laboratory contributing their specialized knowledge to the investigation.
Following the intensive review sessions, Shah took to social media platform X to declare: "Chaired review meetings on the Delhi car blast with the senior officials. Instructed them to hunt down each and every culprit behind this incident. Everyone involved in this act will face the full wrath of our agencies."
The Home Minister's firm stance underscores the government's determination to bring the perpetrators to justice and prevent similar incidents in the future, while the NIA's swift involvement demonstrates the seriousness with which authorities are treating this security breach near one of India's most protected historical sites.
