NEW DELHI: Less than 14 hours after a deadly explosion in India’s capital, New Delhi, police said the incident is being treated as a terrorist attack, Indian media reported.
The blast on Monday night killed at least eight people and injured more than a dozen others.
Authorities initially suggested it was a cylinder blast, however, according to ANI, the investigation was quickly upgraded. The Delhi Police registered a case under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA) in addition to the Explosives Act, which governs the handling of combustible substances.
“Investigations have been initiated and multiple specialized teams from the Delhi Police, the Forensic Science Laboratory and the National Security Guard are present at the crime scene, lifting evidence to help the investigation,” said Deputy Commissioner of Police Raja Banthia.
The explosion occurred near the Red Fort area late Monday night, setting several vehicles ablaze and sending panic through the crowded locality.
‘Attackers would face justice’
India’s Defense Minister Rajnath Singh vowed that those behind the attack would face “justice,” AFP reported. “The country’s leading investigative agencies are conducting a swift and thorough inquiry into the incident. Findings of the investigation will soon be made public.”
“I want to firmly assure the nation that those responsible for this tragedy will be brought to justice and will not be spared under any circumstances,” he added.
The blast comes as voters head to the polls in the eastern state of Bihar, where a second and final phase of voting is underway, an election widely seen as a key test for Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) ahead of other major state contests.
Security issues regularly feature prominently in India’s elections.
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