Days after a powerful blast inside a Hyundai i20 car near Delhi’s Red Fort, police have begun searching for another suspected vehicle believed to be linked to the same terror module, reported the IANS.
Delhi Police sources told the IANS, officials were now looking for a red Ford EcoSport, which investigators believe was also used by members of the group involved in the explosion. An alert has been issued across the capital, and five police teams have been deployed to trace the vehicle.
Sources familiar with the investigation said that early findings indicate the suspects possessed a second red car in addition to the i20 that exploded. All police stations, posts, and border checkpoints across Delhi have been placed on alert to look for the vehicle. The Uttar Pradesh and Haryana Police have also been informed and asked to assist in the search operation, the IANS reported.
Meanwhile, on his return from Bhutan on Wednesday, Prime Minister Narendra Modi went straight to the Lok Nayak Jai Prakash Narayan Hospital, where he met those injured in the Red Fort blast. Mr Modi, who arrived in Delhi in the afternoon after his two-day visit, interacted with the victims, wished them a speedy recovery, and was briefed by doctors and officials about their condition.
Earlier in the day, the National Investigation Agency (NIA) announced the formation of a special 10-member team to take over the Red Fort blast probe. The team will be headed by NIA Additional Director General Vijay Sakhare and include an Inspector General, two Deputy Inspector Generals, three Superintendents of Police, and several Deputy Superintendents.
The development came after the Home Ministry officially handed the investigation to the NIA on Tuesday. The blast took place on the evening of 10 November, when a Haryana-registered Hyundai i20 parked near Gate No. 1 of the Red Fort Metro Station exploded, leaving a trail of destruction and panic in the busy area.
Investigators are currently reviewing more than 1,000 CCTV clips from the vicinity, as early assessments suggest the explosion may have been a suicide attack intended to cause maximum casualties. Agencies are also examining mobile phone dump data and social media activity from multiple locations across Delhi in an effort to trace digital links to the attackers.
Security has been tightened in Delhi, Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, and Mumbai, with heightened vigilance around crowded areas, markets, and religious sites. Authorities remain on high alert as the search for the red Ford EcoSport intensifies, seen as a key lead in uncovering the wider network behind the Red Fort blast.
(with IANS inputs)