Defence Minister Rajnath Singh on Tuesday vowed that those behind the Red Fort blast in Delhi would face the harshest punishment, calling the attack a grave act that would not go unpunished.Singh said the government was treating the incident with the “utmost seriousness”.
“I want to firmly assure the nation that those responsible for this tragedy will be brought to justice and will not be spared under any circumstances,” said the Defence Minister, addressing the Delhi Defence Dialogue organised by the Manohar Parrikar Institute for Defence Studies and Analyses (MP-IDSA). He added that the investigation was being handled at the highest levels.
His remarks came just hours after investigators identified Dr Umar Un Nabi, a Pulwama-based doctor, as the prime suspect in the explosion that killed nine people and injured 20 others near the historic monument on Monday evening. Police believe Umar was driving the white Hyundai i20 that exploded and that he was linked to a terror module connected to a recent large-scale explosives seizure in Faridabad.
“From this platform, I wish to assure my fellow citizens that the country’s leading investigative agencies are conducting a swift and thorough inquiry into the incident. The findings of the investigation will soon be made public,” said Rajnath Singh.
Expressing grief over the loss of lives, Singh conveyed condolences to the victims’ families and urged people to remain calm while the investigation proceeds.
Meanwhile, Union Home Minister Amit Shah chaired a high-level meeting on Tuesday to review the security situation in Delhi and other major cities. According to officials, the meeting was attended by Home Secretary Govind Mohan, Intelligence Bureau Chief Tapan Deka, Delhi Police Commissioner Satish Golcha, and National Investigation Agency (NIA) Director General Sadanand Vasant Date. Jammu and Kashmir DGP Nalin Prabhat joined the discussion virtually.
Officials presented detailed updates on the post-blast security arrangements and the progress of the probe. Earlier, Shah had told the media that all major investigative agencies were working jointly to uncover the full conspiracy behind the blast and bring the perpetrators to justice.
In the aftermath of the explosion, security has been tightened nationwide, with major cities placed on high alert as a precautionary measure.
