Investigators have pieced together the last movements of the white Hyundai i20 that detonated near Delhi’s Red Fort on Monday evening, killing 13 people and injuring 21 others. CCTV footage from across central Delhi helped to map the car’s route in those crucial hours that preceded the explosion.
Suspected Owner: A Kashmir-based doctor
Authorities have identified the vehicle as belonging to one Dr. Umar Un Nabi from Pulwama, a Kashmir based doctor reportedly connected to a terror module recently dismantled in Faridabad.
Officials believe Dr. Nabi was in communication with two other Jammu and Kashmir doctors arrested in the same investigation and may have been driving the Hyundai at the time of the blast.
Reconstructing the Route of Hyundai i20
The car with three occupants, started the final journey at around 4:00 pm from Daryaganj Market to Sunehri Masjid parking near the Red Fort and stayed there for almost two hours.
At 6:45 pm, it came out of the parking, took a U-turn near Old Delhi Railway Station, passed through Chhata Rail Chowk and went towards Lower Subhash Marg. At 6:52 pm, the car exploded while slowing down at a traffic signal near the Red Fort Metro Station.
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Timeline of Events
4:00 pm: Left Daryaganj Market for Sunehri Masjid parking.
6:45 pm: Exited parking, U-turn near Old Delhi Railway Station and drove along Chhata Rail Chowk.
6:52 pm: Blast near Red Fort Metro Station at Netaji Subhash Marg.
Impact of the Blast
The blast tore through the Hyundai, igniting nearby vehicles including six cars, two e-rickshaws, an auto-rickshaw and a bus. Eyewitnesses described a scene of chaos as thick smoke and flames engulfed the area.
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Security Measures Intensified
High alerts were issued across Delhi-NCR, Mumbai, and Pune following the explosion. The security has been beefed up at metro stations, airports, government buildings, and crowded marketplaces like Sarojini Nagar. There is heavy police deployment in Gurugram, Noida and Ghaziabad.
Investigative Steps & Legal Action
In order to trace its chain of ownership, authorities detained two previous owners of the Hyundai i20. Delhi Police have invoked stern legal provisions including Sections 16 and 18 of the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act, Sections 3 and 4 of the Explosive Substances Act and relevant sections addressing murder and attempted murder. The investigation into the operation is in process, as officials work to uncover the full scope of the terror operation.
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Disclaimer: The article is based on ongoing investigations; details may change as authorities continue probing the Red Fort blast incident.
