Three crucial hours, no crater mystery in Delhi blast; cops intensify probe

NEW DELHI: The investigation into the explosion near Delhi's Red Fort Metro Station has zeroed in on three critical aspects, with one of the most puzzling being the unexplained three hours that the main suspect spent inside the Red Fort parking area before the blast.

Delhi Police and central security agencies are now piecing together the chain of events that led to the deadly explosion, which killed at least eight people and left dozens injured.

Initial findings suggest that the Hyundai i20 involved in the explosion was driven by Dr Mohammed Umar, a resident of Koil village in Pulwama, Jammu and Kashmir. According to sources, CCTV footage from the area confirms that Umar was behind the wheel of the vehicle.

The explosion occurred on Monday evening near Gate No. 1 of the Red Fort Metro Station. The Haryana-registered Hyundai i20 suddenly exploded, sending shockwaves through the high-security area. Security agencies have since issued high alerts in Delhi, Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, and Mumbai, tightening surveillance around public places and religious sites.

Another focus of the investigation is the network linked to three doctors from Faridabad's Al-Falah University, including Dr Adil Ahmad Rather and Dr Mujammil, both recently arrested for alleged links to terror outfits.