NEW DELHI: The recent blast in Delhi was reportedly carried out in panic by a member of a Jaish module after security agencies dismantled its network and hideouts across Jammu & Kashmir, Haryana, and Uttar Pradesh, according to sources in the security establishment.
A senior central security officer told TOI that the raids, which recovered nearly 3,000kg of explosives from multiple locations in Delhi-NCR and Pulwama, appear to have forced the suspect to act hastily under pressure. “The device was crudely assembled and not fully developed, which limited its impact. No crater or shrapnel was found at the site,” the officer said.
Officials identified Dr Umar, a member of the busted module, as the driver of the vehicle used in the explosion, as confirmed by CCTV footage. The explosives used in the blast matched those seized from the Faridabad hideouts. “Whether the blast was deliberate or accidental is under investigation,” the officer added.
Preliminary findings suggest the explosion may have been unintended, as the car was moving through traffic rather than being driven into a crowd — a typical tactic in vehicle-borne IED attacks. Investigators are also probing whether the device detonated accidentally while being transported.
While officials termed the deaths tragic, they emphasized that a major terror strike was averted due to timely police action and intelligence coordination following the discovery of Jaish-linked posters in Srinagar.
“The neutralisation of this module underscores the vigilance and efficiency of our intelligence and law enforcement agencies,” a senior officer said.
The investigation into the Jaish network began after objectionable posters appeared in Srinagar, prompting the registration of an FIR on October 19.
