Indian PM Modi calls deadly Delhi car blast a “conspiracy” near Red Fort that killed at least 8, with anti-terror agency leading investigation.
NEW DELHI: Prime Minister Narendra Modi has described a deadly car explosion in the capital as a “conspiracy” and vowed to bring those responsible to justice.
The blast occurred on Monday near the historic Red Fort, killing at least eight people and injuring 19 others when flames engulfed several vehicles.
“I assure everyone that the agencies will get to the bottom of the entire conspiracy,” Modi said during a state visit to Bhutan.
“All those involved will be brought to justice,” he added without providing further details.
Indian authorities have stopped short of officially calling the explosion an attack, saying they await forensic analysis.
However, the home affairs ministry confirmed that India’s anti-terrorism force, the National Investigation Agency, is leading the probe.
The explosion came hours after police announced the arrest of a gang and seizure of explosive materials and assault rifles.
Police said the men were linked to Jaish-e-Mohammed and Ansar Ghazwat-ul-Hind, both listed as terrorist organisations in India.
Home Minister Amit Shah chaired security talks following the blast and instructed officials “to hunt down each and every culprit behind this incident”.
“Everyone involved in this act will face the full wrath of our agencies,” he stated.
Witnesses described horrific scenes as the car exploded in traffic, setting people on fire.
“People were on fire and we tried to save them… Cars and people were burning — people inside the cars were burning,” said Dharmendra Dhaga, 27.
The emergency ward at Delhi’s LNJP hospital was chaotic as wounded people streamed in for treatment.
The blast represents the first significant security incident since an April shooting attack in Indian-administered Kashmir that killed 26 people.
That attack triggered clashes between nuclear-armed rivals India and Pakistan in May before a ceasefire was established.
On Tuesday, after a suicide bomber killed at least 12 people in Islamabad, Pakistan’s Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif blamed “terrorist proxies backed by India” without providing evidence.
India rejected what it called “baseless and unfounded” allegations from an “obviously delirious Pakistani leadership”. – AFP
