Manas Dasgupta
NEW DELHI, Oct 20: An explosion took place at the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) school in Rohini locality in Delhi on Sunday morning.
The blast, which took place at 7.47 am, blew off a wall of the school in Prashant Vihar. While no one was injured, the explosion shattered car windows and damaged hoardings of shops. Multiple security agencies, including Delhi Police Special Cell, Forensic teams, National Investigation Agency, CRPF and NSG, are now probing the matter and are trying to identify what caused the blast.
A video recorded by a local resident shows a cloud of smoke billowing from near the blast site. The eyewitness said, “I was at home. I heard a loud sound, saw a cloud of smoke and recorded the video. I do not know anything more. A police team and an ambulance have reached the spot.”
Senior police officer Amit Goel said they have called in experts to investigate what led to the blast. In a later update, police said they have not found anything suspicious yet and the underground sewage line is being examined as part of the probe. Local residents have said the explosion had shattered windows of cars parked near the school and damaged the signboards of shops in the area.
The police said the material that was used in the blast resembled a crude bomb. However, the Forensic Science Laboratory sources said the details would be clear after full reports were received. According to the initial investigation, no terror angle has been found, but the final clarity would be given by the Forensic Science Laboratory (FSL) team, sources said.
“Today at 07:47 hrs, a PCR call was received in which the caller informed that a blast with lots of noise took place near CRPF school Sector 14 Rohini. SHO/PV and staff reached at the spot, where the school wall was found damaged with a foul smell. The glasses of nearby shop and car parked near the shop were found to be damaged. No one was injured,” the police said in a statement. “Crime team, FSL team and bomb disposal squad is called on the spot. Crime spot has been cordoned. Fire brigade team is on the spot. The matter is being looked into on the cause of blast,” they added.
The National Security Guard has been informed and a team may visit the spot. Police sources said a crude bomb could be behind the blast. A team from National Investigation Agency is also at the site. A white powder-like residue has been found at the spot and this is being sent for forensic testing. The Delhi Police has registered an FIR under the Explosives Act and the case will soon be transferred to the special cell. The NIA, CRPF and NSG are also investigating the matter. The area has been cordoned off and is being mapped. Police are scanning CCTV footage in the area to identify who planted the bomb. According to sources, police are not ruling out a conspiracy angle.
Plumes of smoke could be seen billowing from the spot. A purported video of the aftermath of the explosion also surfaced on social media showing thick dense white smoke.
Delhi Fire Services (DFS) said they received a call regarding a blast “near the boundary wall” of the CRPF school. “We immediately rushed two fire engines to the spot. There was no fire and no one was injured due to the blast, so our vehicle returned,” DFS officials said.
A senior police officer said, “Our forensic team and crime unit are at the spot to collect samples from the blast location. It could be a firecracker, but we are investigating the entire matter from all angles,” the officer said. Police said they are checking the CCTV footage of the spot.
CCTV footage has emerged showing the moment an explosion tore through the wall of the school which has raised alarm, coming amid numerous bomb threat calls to airlines across India. The police have collected mobile network data to find who were present nearby when the explosion happened.
Forensic experts inspecting the area outside the school found a suspicious “white powder” from the spot and sent it to a laboratory. They dug up the ground near the school wall and took soil samples. “Whether it is some kind of explosive or anything else can only be ascertained after we thoroughly examine it. We are suspecting a crude bomb,” a senior officer said.
NSG commandos have deployed robots to scan the entire area to know if there are any other explosive material. “NSG, NIA and Delhi Police have cordoned off the entire area. Delhi Police is already on high alert due to festival season. Police has filed a case under the Explosives Act,” the officer said.
Amidst the multi-agency investigation into the blast, the Delhi Chief Minister Atishi targeted the ruling BJP over the law and order situation in the national capital. The Union Home Ministry controls Delhi Police and this has been a key point of conflict between the Centre and Delhi’s Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) government.
In a post on X, Ms Atishi said the blast had exposed Delhi’s “crumbling” law and order system. “The responsibility to maintain law and order in Delhi is with BJP’s central government. But BJP ignores this and uses its time to disrupt the work of Delhi’s elected governments. This is why Delhi’s situation is now that of Mumbai during the era of the Underworld. Bullets are being fired in the open, gangsters are extorting money and criminals are upbeat. The BJP neither has the intent nor the ability (to handle this),” she said. “If by mistake, Delhiites give them (BJP) charge of Delhi government, the condition of hospitals, power and water supply will become the same as the law and order situation in Delhi,” the Chief Minister added.
Responding to Ms Atishi’s charge, BJP’s Shazia Ilmi said, “The puppet CM is known for this. If you make her speak on any topic, it is always about the Centre. Something very serious has happened. The situation is totally in control. Instead of expressing anxiety about the situation and (thinking) what should be done, a political blame game has begun. It is immature and irresponsible to always do politics on serious issues.”
Elections in the national capital are due in February and the AAP, which has been in power for 10 years now, is pushing hard to win a third term. AAP leader Arvind Kejriwal, who was arrested in a corruption case linked to Delhi’s now-scrapped liquor policy, stepped down as Chief Minister last month and said he would return to the top office only after the “people’s court” elects him again. Following his resignation, senior party leader Atishi took over the top job.