NIA takes over the Delhi Red Fort blast probe; Death toll rises to 12

The Ministry of Home Affairs has handed over the Red Fort blast investigation to the National Investigation Agency, treating the case as a suspected act of terror.

The Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) on Tuesday handed over the probe into the Red Fort blast to the National Investigation Agency (NIA) after the death toll rose to 12, indicating that the government suspects a possible terror link behind the explosion.

A senior official confirmed, “The blast case has been handed over to the NIA,” marking a major shift in the investigation. The NIA, India’s top counter-terror agency, handles cases involving terrorism and national security threats.

Also Read:PM Modi vows tough action: “Conspirators behind Red Fort blast won’t be spared”

The decision came shortly after Union Home Minister Amit Shah chaired a high-level meeting to review the overall security situation in Delhi and across the country. He has called for another round of review later in the day, instructing top officials and intelligence agencies to “go in-depth” into every aspect of the incident.

The blast occurred around 6:52 pm on Monday evening near the Red Fort Metro Station, when a slow-moving Hyundai i20 car exploded at a busy traffic signal. The powerful explosion killed at least 12 people, injured several others, and destroyed multiple vehicles parked nearby.

Also Read:Delhi blast: Umar Mohammad’s family detained as police confirm DNA test, probe links to Pulwama network

Security forces have intensified checks in the national capital region, with multiple teams of the Delhi Police, forensic experts, and intelligence units already on the ground. Early inputs suggest the use of ammonium nitrate, a chemical compound often linked to previous terror attacks.

The NIA is expected to begin its formal investigation immediately, collecting all forensic evidence and digital data to trace the source of the explosives and the network behind the act.