New Delhi: Union Home Minister Amit Shah chaired another round of high-level security review meetings on Tuesday to assess the situation following the Delhi bomb blasts. During the meeting, Shah directed the search for every culprit behind the incident. He also stated that everyone involved in this act will face severe punishment from our agencies.
The bomb blast claimed several lives and injured many others. The meeting began at the Home Ministry’s Kartavya Bhawan office.
The meeting was held after a gap of more than two hours. The first round of the meeting took place at 11 am at the Home Minister’s residence. Home Secretary Govind Mohan, Intelligence Bureau Director Tapan Deka, National Investigation Agency (NIA) Director General Sadanand Vasant Date, and Delhi Police Commissioner Satish Golcha attended the meeting. Jammu and Kashmir Director General of Police Nalin Prabhat also joined the meeting virtually.
The review comes amid heightened security concerns in the national capital, as multiple agencies are investigating the explosion of a Hyundai i20 car near a traffic signal between Gates 1 and 4 of the Red Fort Metro station around 7 p.m. Immediately after the blast, Shah spoke with the Delhi Police Commissioner and the Director of the Intelligence Bureau and directed a coordinated, multi-agency investigation involving the NIA, NSG, FSL, and Delhi Police.
All agencies have been directed to conduct a comprehensive investigation into the nature and cause of the explosion and submit a detailed report as soon as possible. Following the conclusion of the first round of meetings, the Home Ministry referred to it as a possible terrorist act and handed over the investigation to the NIA. This decision comes amid growing concerns about the nature of the blast and its nexus.
The NIA will formally take over the investigation from the Delhi Police and examine all aspects of the case, including the material used in the explosion and possible terrorist connections. Earlier, a post-blast investigation team from the National Security Guard (NSG) had collected forensic evidence from the scene, along with a forensic team.
Handing over the case to the NIA reflects the central government’s intent to ensure a comprehensive and coordinated investigation into the incident. Sources said the security review focused on the progress of the blast investigation as well as its possible connection to the seizure of a large quantity of explosive material from Faridabad on Monday.
A team from the FSL and NIA revisited the blast site on Tuesday morning to collect additional forensic evidence. The NIA will soon file a First Information Report in the case and, as per procedure, will take possession of all evidence collected by the Delhi Police.
