Delhi Police writes to Telegram to investigate Khalistani call on CRPF school blast

Delhi Police on Monday (October 21) wrote to messaging app Telegram to investigate a Khalistani call on the blast near a CRPF school. Police sought details of a group that claimed responsibility for the blast, PTI reported.

An alleged Telegram post that circulated on social media late at night claimed that the explosion was carried out in retaliation for the “attack” by pro-Khalistan separatists, allegedly by Indian agents.

“Police wrote to Telegram to know the details of the creator of the group – Indian Justice League – in which the CCTV of the blast was shared with a watermark of Khalistan Zindabad,” the report said.

A post on Telegram by “Justice League India” said: “If the dastardly Indian agency and its master think they can hire filthy goons to attack our members and silence our voice, then they live in a world of fools. They cannot imagine how close we are to them and how capable we are of attacking at any time #KhalistanZindabad #JLI.”

On the morning of October 20, a strong explosion destroyed a wall of the CRPF school in Prashant Vihar area of ​​Rohini. There were no casualties in the explosion, but a sign, panels from nearby stores and windows from vehicles parked near the site were damaged in the incident.

In its FIR, the police mentioned a “white powder found scattered” at the spot and said the explosion was caused by an “unknown explosive substance”. Police recovered CCTV footage of a suspect from the night before the incident.

Teams from Delhi Police’s Special Cell, Crime Branch and local police are investigating the case.

#TO ATTEND | Delhi: Security officials continue their investigation at the site where an explosion occurred yesterday outside the CRPF school in Prashant Vihar, Rohini. pic.twitter.com/wAh1QqCtn3

-ANI (@ANI) October 21, 2024

An FIR under Sections 326(g) (damage causing serious consequences to public safety) of Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, Prevention of Damage to Public Property Act and Explosives Act was registered at Prashant Vihar police station.

The FIR stated that there was a “loud noise accompanied by white smoke” near the outer wall of the CRPF Public School on Lancer Road.

On October 20, teams from the Forensic Science Laboratory (FSL) and the National Security Guard (NSG) inspected the site and collected samples. “The white powder could be a mixture of nitrate and ammonium chloride,” a senior police officer told PTI.

CRPF officials from the Institute of IED Management, Pune, conducted an on-the-ground assessment as the NSG’s Bomb Disposal Squad (BDS) prepares to submit its final report to the Delhi Police. The CRPF, with its experience in soil assessment, and the involvement of the Institute of IED Management, suggested a focus on understanding the mechanics and origin of the explosion.

The Delhi Police, in turn, is expected to submit its initial report to the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA). Furthermore, the NIA (National Investigation Agency) and FSL of Delhi Police have been assisting in the investigation.

With contributions from PTI