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Delhi Police search for clues after Rohini blast | Latest News Delhi

Delhi Police search for clues after Rohini blast | Latest News Delhi

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

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

Officials said analysis of CCTV camera footage from the three days before the blast did not yield any clues, but they will continue to scan footage from the last 10 to 12 days. Thirty people living and working around the blast site were also questioned, they said.

“The white powder found spread around the explosion site could be potassium chlorate. There were also traces of hydrogen peroxide. But we’re trying to understand how these chemicals were triggered to cause the explosion. At least two small wires were also found at the explosion site, but it is not yet clear for what purpose they were used. We are waiting for reports from forensic experts to have more details on this subject,” said an investigator, requesting anonymity.

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

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On Monday, new CCTV footage from Saturday evening surfaced on social media, showing several cars parked near the blast site and people walking on the adjacent footpath. HT could not independently verify the authenticity of the video clip.

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

Devinder Goyal, a jeweler whose billboard was damaged, said, “There are several restaurants in this market due to which cars are parked on both sides of the road and waiters deliver inside the cars . If this had happened during the day or even at night, several people could have died. »

The FIR

The first information report (FIR) registered by the local police on the basis of a daily diary (DD) entry, stated that the officer had visited the “crime scene after the blast”.

“Local investigations revealed that there was a loud noise accompanied by white smoke. A hole in the compound wall of the school is evident, caused by the blast,” the document (FIR) reads.

The FIR further mentioned that the caller, identified as Akash, was questioned and he said that he was sleeping at home when he heard the blast and called the police. “During inspection, white powder was found scattered near the site,” the FIR said.

Forensic view

A senior official of the forensic laboratory said their team raised evidence from the spot including white powder which was in a polythene bag, as well as scattered on the pavement, two small pieces of wire and a spool black. “Preliminary inspection revealed that the explosive was placed in a polythene and then in the half-foot-deep pit adjacent to the boundary wall,” the official said, requesting anonymity.

According to FSL officials, there was no evidence of a detonator or device that could have triggered the explosion remotely. “This is an investigation to determine how the explosive detonated, as it does not appear to be remotely controlled; no such chemical was found suggesting that the explosive could reach a certain temperature,” the official said.

CCTV under lens

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

Police said they also questioned 20 men working at a food restaurant across the road as well as a few security guards in the area to determine any possible suspicious activity in the area. “Men often cross the road and sit near the school wall to find shade. Many of them were seen sitting near this place in recent days,” the officer quoted above said.

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