In the Red Fort blast case, wherein 9 people died and 24 were injured on 10th November, a Faridabad and Ammonium Nitrate connection has emerged.
On 9th November, Jammu and Kashmir police raided the home of Dr. Muzamil Shakeel, a Pulwama resident, in Dhauj village, Faridabad, Haryana. Over 360 kg of explosives and an assault rifle were recovered from his room. Four kilometres away, in Fatehpur Taga village, 2,563 kg of suspected ammonium nitrate was recovered from the home of a Maulana.
The recovery included around 2,900 kg of explosives, detonators, assault weapons, and communication devices.
The operation was conducted jointly by the Intelligence Bureau (IB), Haryana Anti-Terrorism Squad (ATS), and NIA. Among those detained were two doctors from Al Falah Hospital, a cleric from Mewat, and several suspects linked to the Pakistan-based terror group Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM). Officials described the network as a “medical-terror nexus”, where trained professionals provided logistical support and safe houses for IED manufacturing.
Ammonium Nitrate recovery in Haryana, car blast in Delhi: The Haryana connection of Red Fort blast
When the pieces of this and the Delhi car blast are put together, a connection emerges. Not an IED but Ammonium Nitrate is suspected to have caused the blast. The car that exploded was issued a challan in Faridabad. The police are investigating the angle of transporting explosives in a car to hide them due to fear of raids.
The car used in the blast was registered in the name of Salman, who lives in Gurugram North, Haryana. Police have taken him into custody for questioning. However, media reports say that Salman has informed the police that the car was sold to another person. The car was sold to Umar Mohammad, a doctor from Pulwama.
According to an NDTV report, an unnamed officer said that Umar panicked following the raids and arrests of two members of the module, Dr Mujammil Shakeel and Dr Adil Rather. Out of panic, he triggered the blast near the Red Fort.
The report further stated that as the car was seen moving from the Red Fort towards the city centre, it is unclear if the target was intended to be the location where the incident took place or somewhere else. According to unnamed police sources quoted by NDTV, large quantities of ammonium nitrate were used in the attack, the same material recovered during the raids in Faridabad. Notably, ammonium nitrate is usually used as fertiliser but can also be used to make bombs.
Citing sources within the security agencies, Dainik Bhaskar reported that the manner of the blast suggests that ammonium nitrate may have been the cause.
Notably, Ammonium nitrate is an explosive similar to RDX and is used for blasting in mines. The 360 kilograms of ammonium nitrate seized in Faridabad could wreak havoc within an area of around 100 meters.
The videos of following the blast show orange smoke billowing from a car fire. Reports say orange smoke is produced when ammonium nitrate explodes because the explosion releases gases like nitrogen oxide and ammonia.
Nitrogen dioxide causes the smoke to appear orange when mixed with air. This, however, can only be confirmed after the reports of the forensic examination come out.
Besides the “attacked out of fear” angle, the other angle investigative agencies are looking into is that the suspected Jihadis may be in danger of being caught and may be trying to dispose of the explosive, although the deliberate attack angle remains in central focus.
Red Fort Blast
On 10th November, a massive blast occurred close to the Red Fort in Delhi. The blast was so intense that nearby vehicles caught fire. At least eight people lost their lives, and several others were injured. The injured were rushed to Lok Nayak Jai Prakash Narayan Hospital. Within minutes of the blast, the fire brigade and investigation agencies rushed to the spot. Home Minister Amit Shah visited the hospital and the blast site. Prime Minister Narendra Modi expressed condolences and called HM Shah to take stock of the situation. HM conducted a high-level meeting at midnight and said in a statement that all angles are being probed in the matter. More information is expected to be shared by the investigating agencies and the Home Ministry on Tuesday.
Delhi Police invokes UAPA and Explosives Act
The Delhi Police has registered a case under the stringent UAPA, the Explosives Act, and the Bharatiya Nyay Samhita. A case has been registered under sections 16, 18 of the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA) and various sections of the Explosives Act and the BNS at the Kotwali Police Station,” the Delhi Police said.
The Delhi Police is conducting raids at multiple locations. The national capital has been put on high alert with strict vigil being maintained at the airport, railway stations, and bus terminals.
Meanwhile, the Forensic Science Laboratory (FSL) said that samples will be taken to the laboratory and that a clue about the nature of the blast will be determined after examination.