New Delhi (Balwinder Singh): The Jammu and Kashmir Police have detained a religious preacher from Haryana for questioning in connection with the recent blast near the Red Fort, as investigators uncover new forensic clues pointing to a larger terror network.
Officials said that experts from the Forensic Science Laboratory (FSL) have collected more than 40 samples from the site of the explosion, including two cartridge casings—one containing live ammunition—and traces of two separate explosive materials.
Preliminary laboratory analysis suggests that ammonium nitrate was one of the substances used in the explosive device. However, a second, more potent compound was also detected, the composition of which will be confirmed once chemical tests are completed, a senior official said.
The investigation took a new turn earlier this week when authorities in Faridabad seized nearly 360 kilograms of ammonium nitrate during raids linked to the case. Two individuals, Dr. Muzammil Ganaie and Dr. Shaheen Sayeed, both associated with Al-Falah University, were arrested in that operation for their alleged involvement in assembling or storing explosive materials.
The detained preacher is suspected to have acted as a facilitator between the Faridabad group and individuals responsible for orchestrating the Delhi blast. Sources say that intelligence agencies are now mapping communications and financial trails that may reveal cross-border or interstate coordination.
In response to the incident, security has been tightened around major monuments and government installations in the capital. Forensic experts continue to examine the recovered samples to determine the precise nature and source of the explosives used.
Officials emphasized that while the investigation is ongoing, the recovery of multiple explosive components and the arrests made so far indicate that the Red Fort blast could be part of a broader terror conspiracy.
