Rohini blast: Material used in blast outside Delhi’s CRPF school resembles crude bomb, says forensic lab sources

The wall of the CRPF school, nearby shops and a car received damage, the police confirmed on Delhi’s Rohini blast

An explosion was reported near a CRPF school in a market area in Prashant Vihar locality of Delhi’s Rohini on Sunday morning. It left the school wall, glass panes of several shops and a car damaged. No one was reported injured. Police are investigating to find out how the blast occurred and those who were involved.

A senior Delhi police officer said the blast was caused by an improvised crude bomb. The explosion was reported around 7.50 a.m. near the CRPF School in Sector-14 in Rohini. A bomb squad and a police forensic team, along with officials of the NIA, NDRF, CRPF and NSG, rushed to the spot to ascertain the source of the explosion. The NSG, NIA and Delhi Police have cordoned off the entire area, said DCP (Rohini) Amit Goel.

The Delhi Police are on a high alert since it’s a festival season. The Prashant Vihar police have registered a case under section 326 (g) (Mischief by injury, inundation, fire or explosive substance) of Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), section 4 of Prevention of Damage to Public Property Act and section 3 of Explosives Act, the DCP said.

According to sources, police have not ruled out the conspiracy angle.

A purported video of the aftermath of the explosion, which surfaced on social media, showed thick white smoke emanating from the spot. Sources said there was “chemical-like” odour.

A team of forensic experts inspected the area and found a suspicious “white powder” at the spot, which has been sent to the laboratory for examination. Sources said it could be a mixture of ammonia and phosphate.

The Delhi Police said they were collecting the mobile network users data registered in the nearby towers to examine who was present near the spot when the explosion occurred.

The team also dug a hole near the school’s wall and collected soil samples. A source claimed the material used in the blast resembled those used in a crude bomb, and said that there would be clarity only when a full report was received. Meanwhile, the NSG commandos deployed robots to scan the entire area for explosive materials.

While police intensified foot patrolling in different markets, residents of the area were asked to report any item found under suspicious circumstances. Police are conducting raids in different parts of Delhi and are on a lookout for suspects.

After the blast, many panic-stricken residents rushed out of their houses and shops. Shashank, an eyewitness and a resident of the area, said around 7.44 am he heard a very loud noise. “At first, I thought that an LPG cylinder had exploded or that a building nearby had collapsed. The entire area was covered with smoke for at least 10 minutes. Glass panes of several shops were shattered. We immediately alerted the police and the fire brigade,” he said. Police rushed to the spot on time as there as a police outpost nearby, he added.

Published - October 20, 2024 10:47 am IST