Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi has said those responsible for a deadly explosion in the heart of the Indian capital “will not be spared.” An investigation is ongoing.
Indian police on Tuesday launched an investigation into a deadly car blast near the historic Red Fort in the heart of the Indian capital that killed at least eight people.
In the aftermath of the blast, which happened Monday afternoon on a bustling street, authorities have shut down the Red Fort Metro station and closed the Red Fort for three days.
Several Indian states, such as Karnataka, Punjab, Haryana, Himachal Pradesh, and Jammu & Kashmir, remain on high alert.
Forensic experts are working to determine what caused the explosion at the sprawling Mughal-era Red Fort, which is a major tourist attraction in Delhi.
Police said a slow-moving car had stopped at a traffic signal and exploded just before 7 p.m. local time.
There has been no confirmation on the cause of the explosion, but the police are investigating the case under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA), an anti-terror law that allows broader powers to investigating agencies.
“Investigation is at a preliminary stage and any comment on it will be too premature,” said Deputy Commissioner of Police Raja Banthia
Modi vows ‘justice’
Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who is on a visit to neighboring Bhutan, offered his condolences to the families of those killed.
“The horrific incident that happened in Delhi last evening has deeply disturbed everyone,” he said.
“The conspirators behind this will not be spared. All those responsible will be brought to justice,” he said. “Our agencies will get to the very bottom of this conspiracy,” he added.
Defense Minister Rajnath Singh told a conference in New Delhi that investigative agencies are “conducting a swift and thorough inquiry into the incident.”
“Findings of the investigation will soon be made public,” he said, without specifying a time frame.
On Monday, Indian Home Minister Amit Shah said that “all angles” were being investigated, and added that footage from cameras in the area would be an important piece of the investigation.
In April, India was shocked by an attack in Kashmir on Hindu tourists that killed 26 and sparked a short conflict with Pakistan. New Delhi blamed that attack on what it called Islamist “terrorists” backed by Pakistan, which Islamabad denies.
Edited by: Wesley Rahn
DW News
