A low intensity explosion occurred near PVR multiplex in Prashant Vihar area of Delhi's Rohini on Thursday (November 28). A man driving a three wheeler, parked near the explosion site, sustained minor injuries in the blast. The National Security Guard (NSG) commandos, Delhi Police Crime Branch, Special Cell, and Bomb Disposal Squad are also present at the spot.
The incident triggered panic in the Prashant Vihar area again a month after another blast ripped through a wall of the CRPF school. However, police officials are saying that they cannot link the two blasts right now as investigation is underway.
Meanwhile, Delhi Chief Minister Atishi has accused the BJP-led central government over failing to maintain law and order in the national capital.
Here's what has happened so far:
- The low intensity blast occurred on Thursday morning, following which the police were informed about it at 11:48 AM. "We rushed four fire tenders on the spot. Our teams are following rest of the details," an official of the Delhi Fire Services told news agency PTI.
- After receiving the information, a bomb detection team, local police force, dog squad team, along with the Delhi Fire Services rushed to the spot. Later, NSG commandos also arrived at the explosion site in Prashant Vihar.
- A senior police officer told Hindustan Times that a "white powder has been recovered from near the explosion site. He also said that the blast happened in a scooter.
- The entire area was cordoned off after the explosion and the shops in the vicinity were also asked to shut down.
- Delhi Chief Minister Atishi condemned the blast and accused the BJP-led central government over failing to maintain law and order in the national capital. She claimed that the incident indicated a larger breakdown in law enforcement and safety measures.
"This is a breakdown of law and order in the national capital," Atishi said, referring to the explosion near CRPF school in the same area.
"The BJP and Home Minister Amit Shah are responsible for this situation. They are failing in their only responsibility in the capital," she added - The blast today is similar to the one that occurred outside a CRPF school's boundary wall in the Prashant Vihar area last month. "But this was a very low-intensity blast which occurred opposite a sweet shop. We cannot link them right now," PTI reported citing sources.
- According to an Indian Express report, the initial investigation had suggested that the explosion last month could have been caused by a crude bomb. However, later it was revealed that the blast could have been caused by burning cigarette butts. It is being said that a man walking his dog reportedly threw the cigarette butt, which came in contact with industrial waste in a garbage dump.