Indian police have launched an investigation under the country’s main anti-terrorism law following a deadly car explosion in central Delhi that killed at least eight people and injured 20 others on Monday evening, local television channels reported on Tuesday.
Authorities have registered a case under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA), a stringent law designed to combat terrorism and activities that threaten India’s sovereignty and integrity, according to multiple news outlets. Reuters said it could not independently verify the reports.
The blast occurred near Delhi’s historic Red Fort, one of India’s most prominent landmarks, around 7 p.m. (1330 GMT). Witnesses said a slow-moving car stopped at a traffic signal before suddenly exploding, damaging nearby vehicles and scattering debris across the busy street near a metro station in the old quarter of the capital.
Images from the scene showed mangled vehicles and charred wreckage, with rescue workers and police officers rushing to evacuate the wounded. The explosion triggered panic in the area, which is usually crowded with commuters and tourists.
Federal Home Minister Amit Shah said late Monday that “all angles” were being examined and that security agencies were working to identify those responsible. “The investigation will leave no stone unturned,” Shah said, adding that the government was treating the incident with the utmost seriousness.
The Red Fort, or Lal Qila, is a 17th-century Mughal-era monument blending Persian and Indian architectural styles. It holds deep symbolic significance in India, with the prime minister delivering the annual Independence Day address from its ramparts every August 15.
The explosion, one of the deadliest in Delhi in recent years, has prompted heightened security measures across major Indian cities, including increased patrols and vehicle checks around key installations and public spaces.
Authorities have yet to determine the cause of the blast or identify any suspects, but the use of the UAPA suggests that investigators are exploring the possibility of a terrorist motive.
Source: Reuters
Written By Rodney Mbua
