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Delhi Police Seeking Clues After Rohini Blast | Latest news Delhi

Delhi Police Seeking Clues After Rohini Blast | Latest news Delhi

Investigating agencies failed to make a breakthrough in their probe into the blast of a crude bomb in Rohini Sector 14, on the outer boundary of the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) Public School, on Sunday morning , officials familiar with the matter said Monday.

NIA officials are investigating the spot. (Sanchit Khanna/HT)
NIA officials are investigating the spot. (Sanchit Khanna/HT)

Officials said analysis of CCTV footage from the three days before the blast yielded no clues, but they will continue to scan footage from the last 10-12 days. Thirty people who lived and worked around the blast site were also questioned, they said.

“The white powder that was found scattered around the site of the explosion could be potassium chlorate. There were also traces of hydrogen peroxide. But we are trying to find out how these chemicals were triggered to cause the explosion. It is also they found at least two small cables at the blast site, but it is still unclear for what purpose they were used. We are waiting for forensic experts’ reports to clarify this further,” said an investigating officer, who asked the anonymity

While forensic reports identifying the exact chemical ingredients used in the bomb and how the blast was triggered were awaited, at least three senior police officers in charge of the investigation said their findings Initial reports suggested that “potassium chlorate and hydrogen peroxide” may have been used to improvise the explosion. However, there was confusion over the “trigger device” and “power source” as no trace of a timer or electronic device was found at the blast site, one of the officials said .

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On Monday, new CCTV footage from Saturday night emerged on social media, showing several cars parked near the blast site and people walking on the road next to it. HT was unable to independently verify the authenticity of the video clip.

Locals and investigators said that if the explosion had taken place on a weekday, its impact would have caused immense damage, as there is a market full of restaurants across the road and people park their cars. cars on both sides. In addition, there are two schools around the blast site and the area remains crowded during school hours, especially in the morning and afternoon when parents visit the schools to drop off and pick up their children.

Devinder Goyal, a jeweler whose display board was damaged, said: “There are several restaurants in this market because cars are parked on both sides of the roads and waiters go inside the cars. If this had happened during the day or even at night on a given day, several people could have died.”

THE FIR

The first information report (FIR) registered by the local police based on a daily diary (DD) entry said the officer went to the “crime scene after the blast”.

“Local investigations revealed that there had been a loud noise accompanied by white plumes of smoke. A hole in the boundary wall of the school, caused by the blast, is evident,” the document (FIR) said.

The FIR also mentioned that the caller, identified as Akash, was questioned and said that he was sleeping in his house when he heard the blast and called the police. “During inspection, scattered white powder was found near the spot,” the FIR read.

Forensic vision

A senior official of the forensic science laboratory said his team lifted exhibits from the site which included white powder contained in a polyester bag, as well as strewn on the road, two small pieces of wire and a black coil. “Preliminary inspection revealed that the explosive was put inside a polythene and then placed in the half-foot deep pit adjacent to the wall,” said the official, requesting anonymity.

According to FSL officials, there was no evidence of a detonator or device that could have triggered the blast remotely. “It is a matter of investigation to find out how the explosive exploded, since it seems that it is not remotely controlled; No chemical was found to suggest that the explosive could reach a certain temperature,” the official said.

CCTV under lens

Investigators said CCTV footage was obtained from three to four shops across the road and the crime scene. “The team has seen CCTV footage till three days ago, from the time of the blast. The team has not been able to find anyone specifically putting anything in the pit. We are re-examining the footage and also checking beyond three days,” said the first police officer.

Police said they also questioned 20 men working at a food joint across the road and a number of security guards in the area to ascertain any possible suspicious activity in the area. “The men often cross the road and sit near the boundary wall of the school to cast shade. Many of them were seen sitting near the site in the past few days,” said the officer quoted earlier.

A National Investigation Agency (NIA) and CRPF team from Pune also visited the blast site on Monday afternoon and spent a few hours, inspecting the site and collecting evidence.