Was Delhi HC blast a trial run?

Low intensity explosion shatters 8-month lull in the capital, prompting cops to sound off an alert

Was Delhi HC blast a trial run?

Low intensity explosion shatters 8-month lull in the capital, prompting cops to sound off an alert

A minor explosion outside Delhi High Court yesterday shattered the eight-month lull in the capital and prompted the police to sound an alert in the city and strengthen security. The low-intensity explosive, kept in a white polythene bag near a lawyer's car parked at Gate No 7 on Service Road, went off at around 1.25 pm causing panic. Three minutes later, the police received a call regarding the blast. The police were groping for clues in the blast and were hesitant to hazard a guess about who was behind it. "It was not an accident.

Shattered: Policemen and forensic experts at the blast site outside
Delhi High Court in New Delhi yesterday. Pic/Imtiyaz Khan

There was a minor explosion. A packet containing explosives near the car's right side exploded. There were minor damages to the car. There was no casualty or injuries," said Dharmendra Kumar, Special Commissioner (Law and Order). Yesterday's blast was the second in the last eight months, the previous one being a car blast on September 19 last year near the Jama Masjid for which terror outfit Indian Mujahideen took responsibility.

That blast took place after two unidentified men opened fire at Taiwanese media crew ahead of the Commonwealth Games. Noting that the nature of the explosives are yet to be ascertained, he said the car owner has nothing to do with the incident. Kumar said Rajat Jain, a lawyer had parked his car and had gone to the canteen to have food. Personnel of the Delhi Police's Special Cell, Crime Branch and Bomb Detection and Disposal Unit were immediately rushed to the site along with officials from the fire brigade while experts from Central Forensic Sciences Laboratory, Delhi and NSG collected samples from the spot. Sources said the forensic experts have collected some white powder and battery-like object from the spot.

"It was not a life-threatening blast... It was a small blast," Kumar said, adding the samples have been sent for forensic examination. He said it was an open access area and there was no CCTV coverage on the lane.
"We are trying to ascertain whether it is an explosion. The residue found has been sent for forensic analysis to see whether there is any sign of explosive," said UK Bansal, Secretary (Internal Security) in the Union Home Ministry.