News Brief
Nishtha Anushree
Oct 21, 2024, 09:53 AM | Updated 09:53 AM IST
Save & read from anywhere!
Bookmark stories for easy access on any device or the Swarajya app.
Delhi Police is exploring a possible link between a powerful explosion near a CRPF (Central Reserved Police Force) school in Delhi’s Rohini on Sunday (20 October) to Khalistani elements.
The blast tore through the wall of the school prompting a multi-agency investigation to uncover the cause and identify those responsible. However, no injuries were reported.
The Delhi Police is looking into claims circulating on social media that the blast was retaliation for alleged actions against pro-Khalistan separatists by Indian agents abroad.
These claims were shared on platforms like Telegram by a group called Justice League India. The post included a video clip of the explosion, featuring a "Khalistan Zindabad" watermark at the bottom.
"If Indian coward agency and their master think they can hire filthy goons to target our members to silence our voice then they live in fools world. They can't imagine how close we are to them," the post said.
It comes at a time when India's tensions with United States and Canada have escalated over alleged involvement of Indian agents in killing of Khalistani terrorist Hardeep Singh Nijjar and plot against Gurpatwant Singh Pannun.
National Security Guard (NSG) commandos were deployed to conduct search operations at the blast site, located outside the CRPF School in Prashant Vihar, Rohini.
The explosion, which damaged nearby shops and cars, is suspected to have been an attempt to send a message to authorities. Investigators are analysing whether the bomb was deliberately designed to avoid causing fatalities.
The improvised explosive device (IED) was likely placed late Saturday night and detonated remotely or via a timer between 7:35 and 7:40 am on Sunday, according to local accounts.
In response, teams from the National Investigation Agency (NIA), NSG, CRPF, and Delhi Police secured the area and gathered evidence. Officials believe the chosen location was carefully selected to convey a message
The incident follows a series of recent bomb threats across the country, all of which have been confirmed as hoaxes. Many flights were forced to be diverted or grounded due to this.
Nishtha Anushree is Senior Sub-editor at Swarajya. She tweets at @nishthaanushree.