Nov 12: Red Fort Car Explosion Probe Widens, BBC In Turmoil

The blast near Delhi’s Red Fort continues to raise major national security concerns. Early investigations suggest a coordinated operation, with leads pointing toward possible terror links and multiple suspects already under scrutiny. Authorities are now tracing the car’s movements and communication networks used to plan the attack. Security has been tightened across the capital and other big cities as agencies dig deeper into the module behind it.

More details on the story below.

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The Sensex and Nifty 50 closed higher on Tuesday, extending Monday's gains. While the BSE Midcap index also ended in the green, the Small Cap index slipped marginally in a mixed session.

The Incident: A car explosion near the Red Fort Metro station in Delhi on the evening of November 10 has left the city shaken, prompting a high-level national security response. The blast occurred in one of the most crowded tourist and commuter zones in the national capital, resulting in multiple fatalities (reports suggesting between 8 to 13 people killed) and dozens of injuries. Authorities quickly cordoned off the area and raised the alert level across Delhi, particularly around high-security and heritage sites. The Red Fort, a symbol of India’s national identity and political history, is among the most heavily monitored public spaces in the country. An attack in its vicinity is a direct strike at the country’s sense of security and public confidence.

Tracing The Car And the Blast: Investigations led by the Delhi Police and the National Investigation Agency (NIA) identified the vehicle involved as a white Hyundai i20. Using CCTV and registration data, the police traced the car’s ownership trail to a resident of Pulwama in Jammu & Kashmir, pointing to a likely terror link. Initial forensic and intelligence inputs suggest that the blast was not a suicide attack. Instead, sources indicate that the explosion may have been triggered in haste or panic, which implies a shift in the original plan. Despite that, the choice of location and timing indicate clear intent: to cause maximum disruption in a high-visibility public space.

Emerging Terror Network Links: As the investigation progressed, authorities uncovered a broader network allegedly linked to the attack. Among those detained or questioned are medical professionals, including doctors who are suspected of involvement in planning, logistics and establishing what agencies describe as a potential “white-collar support structure” connected to the Jaish-e-Mohammad network. Reports indicate that this module may have been tasked with building a network that could operate discreetly within urban professional circles. Their role, as alleged, was not frontline execution but planning, recruitment and ideological reinforcement. Further, the investigation has drawn connections to a prior seizure of approximately 2,900 kg of explosives in Faridabad. The scale of that haul suggests that the Red Fort blast may not have been isolated but part of a larger operational pipeline still under examination.

The Role of Encrypted Communication: Another critical strand of the probe involves communication channels used by the suspects. Authorities believe that encrypted platforms, particularly Telegram, played a significant role, allowing coordination across locations while avoiding conventional surveillance. Early evidence points to the use of closed group channels and self-destructing message settings to plan movements, share updates and coordinate logistics.

Human Cost And Immediate Impact: Among the deceased are individuals simply going about their day: a taxi driver waiting for passengers, a cosmetics shop owner among others who happened to be in the vicinity at the wrong moment. Their deaths underline a reality often lost in security discourse, terror incidents are not abstractions but direct assaults on ordinary lives. Citywide security has now been tightened. Surveillance has increased at metro stations, historical sites and public transport hubs. Central and state agencies are coordinating to trace supply chains, funding sources and sleeper networks.

A Broader Security Challenge: The Red Fort blast shows the evolving nature of terror activity in India. Traditional, visible militant cells are increasingly being supplemented, or replaced, by smaller, networked modules embedded in ordinary professions and everyday urban spaces. These are harder to detect, harder to disrupt and harder to anticipate. The investigation is ongoing, and more layers will almost certainly emerge. But one thing is perhaps certain - this was not an improvised act. It was planned, coordinated and strategically placed. Strengthening national security now requires not only border vigilance but also a sharper focus on networks operating quietly within the country.

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