New Delhi, December 1, 2025:
The National Investigation Agency (NIA) intensified its probe into the November 28 Red Fort car bomb blast, conducting coordinated raids across eight locations in Delhi and Haryana and detaining five suspects linked to the terror attack. Officials have confirmed that the explosion, which killed 12 people and injured 45, was orchestrated by the Pakistan-backed Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT).
According to NIA spokesperson Vandana Vashisht, the attackers rigged a Maruti Swift with RDX and IED components, detonating it remotely near the iconic 17th-century Red Fort, a major tourist hub. Forensic teams have recovered RDX traces identical to those found in a Jammu-based module dismantled in October, bolstering evidence of cross-border coordination.
Among those arrested is alleged handler Abu Ibrahim, an LeT operative operating from Pakistan-occupied Kashmir, along with local recruits including Ravi Kumar, an engineer from Rohtak accused of surveillance and logistical support.
Home Minister Amit Shah condemned the attack as an act by “anti-national forces,” announcing a zero-tolerance policy and deploying 2,000 CRPF personnel for enhanced security across the capital. Measures include drone surveillance over more than 1,000 historical monuments as the city prepares for Republic Day.
Opposition leader Arvind Kejriwal has demanded a special Delhi Assembly session, alleging delays in intelligence coordination that could have averted the blast.
The incident has delivered a blow to Old Delhi’s economy, with tourism witnessing a 20% slump, resulting in daily losses of nearly ₹50 crore. Meanwhile, the NIA is working with Interpol to issue red notices against three absconding suspects believed to be in Pakistan.
LeT chief Hafiz Saeed, under UN sanctions, has denied involvement through a spokesperson—a claim Indian investigators have rejected.
With the probe now extended to 15 states, the NIA has invoked India’s anti-terror laws to fast-track trials, underscoring a rising nationwide threat. According to the Ministry of Home Affairs, over 500 terror modules have been neutralized since 2023.
