Delhi Red Fort Blast: Pulwama Connection Emerges in Deadly Car Explosion Investigation

New Delhi:

One of the owners of the Hyundai i20 that exploded near Delhi's Red Fort Monday evening – claiming nine lives and injuring 20 others in a devastating high-intensity blast – is reportedly from Jammu and Kashmir's Pulwama region, sources informed NDTV.

Earlier, police in Haryana's Gurugram confirmed they had arrested Mohd Salman, the original owner of the i20 with registration number HR26 CE 7674. However, Salman revealed to police that he had sold the vehicle to a man named Tariq, who originates from Pulwama in J&K.

Whether Tariq subsequently sold the car to another party remains unclear at this stage.

What has been established is that the vehicle slowed as it approached a traffic signal near Gate 1 of the Lal Qila metro station at approximately 6:52 pm. The explosion occurred within seconds, no more than a minute later. According to sources, the detonation originated from the rear section of the vehicle.

The powerful blast ignited nearly two dozen nearby vehicles, including an e-rickshaw, creating a fire that burned for approximately 40 minutes before firefighters successfully extinguished it.

Harrowing images from the scene showed bodies on the ground, dismembered body parts, and severely damaged vehicles.

Home Minister Amit Shah has received a comprehensive briefing on the explosion and ongoing investigation, and has subsequently informed Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Shah has also visited the injured victims in hospital.

The explosion occurred just hours after Jammu and Kashmir Police recovered nearly 3,000kg of explosives from two residential properties in Haryana's Faridabad.

The materials – including 350kg of ammonium nitrate, a common fertilizer that can be weaponized into a powerful explosive – were seized based on intelligence provided by Dr. Adil Rather, a recently arrested J&K-based physician.

These events also follow the arrest of another medical professional, Dr. Ahmed Mohiyuddin Saiyed, from Adalaj near Gujarat's capital Gandhinagar. Saiyed was found in possession of three handguns – two Austrian-manufactured Glock pistols and an Italian Beretta – along with ammunition.

Pulwama was previously the location of one of India's most devastating terrorist attacks. On February 14, 2019, a military convoy traveling on the Jammu-Srinagar National Highway was targeted. A suicide bomber driving a Maruti Eeco van executed the attack, killing both himself – identified as Adil Ahmad Dar – and 40 soldiers.

The Pakistan-based terrorist organization Jaish-e-Mohammed claimed responsibility for the attack. India responded with precise military strikes that targeted a training facility and eliminated between 300 and 350 terrorists.

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