India Calls Car Explosion In New Delhi A Terror Attack

Illustration. (Wikimedia Commons/Tony Webster)

JAKARTA - India's cabinet on Wednesday called this week's deadly car explosion near New Delhi's Red Fort a terror attack carried out by "anti-national forces," although officials did not release any new evidence, while investigations continued.

A number of suspects were arrested by Indian authorities from the disputedtendom region on Wednesday, as part of an investigation into Monday's explosion near the historic monument Red Fort that killed eight people and injured several others.

Authorities announced on Tuesday they were investigating as a possible terrorism, a move that gave the authorities a broader authority to arrest or detain people. But they haven't detailed their evidence publicly.

The Federal Cabinet of Ministers, in a resolution passed late Wednesday, called the car explosion a "demonstration of heinous terror, carried out by anti-national forces," quoted by the Daily Sabah November 13.

However, the resolution did not provide further details.

At least five people were detained for questioning in a series of raids overnight in the Pulwama district, south of kolemen, police officials said Wednesday.

Monday's explosion came hours after police in India's control of themen said they had uncovered allegations of militant cells operating from disputed areas to the outskirts of New Delhi.

At least seven people, including two doctors, were arrested, and police confiscated weapons as well as a large amount of bomb-making material in Faribad, a town in Haryana State close to New Delhi.

Indian news reported the explosion was likely linked to the same cell. Police have not commented, citing their ongoing investigation.

Meanwhile, four police officers at the fire department familiar with the case said the investigation that took them to the cell began with routine investigations into anti-Indian posters that appeared in an environment in Srinagar City,

The officers, who spoke on condition of anonymity due to the sensitivity of the case, said CCTV footage helped identify the suspects, which initially led to the arrest of at least three people.

Over the next three weeks, interrogation resulted in the detention of twoappropriate doctors who worked in two cities in India, as well as two other suspects from themen, officers said.

Media berita India melaporkan bahwa polisi sedang menyelidiki apakah tersangka lain dari sel yang sama, juga seorang dokter

Police have not confirmed the report, but Indian news media said the doctor may have intentionally triggered an explosion to avoid arrests or transport of explosives that exploded accidentally.

Delhi police spokesman Sanjay Tyagi said investigators were investigating "all possible points of view, including terror attacks, accidental explosions, or any kind of damage to cars."

It is known that the Red Fort, which is the main tourist attraction, is a monument to the 17th century and where Indian prime ministers deliver their Independence Day address on August 15 every year.

If confirmed to be a deliberate attack, this would be the deadliest explosion in the Indian capital since 2011.

The possible link between terrorism in the explosion has raised concerns about the return of tensions between India and Pakistan.

India often accuses Pakistan of supporting attacks on its territory, saying the attacks were carried out by groups based across the border.