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Meanwhile in a statement, the Union Home Ministry confirmed that the Home Minister held two back-to-back meetings at North Block with top security, intelligence and forensic officials to assess the situation and coordinate the response. The first meeting was attended by the Union Home Secretary, Director of Intelligence Bureau, Director General of NIA and Delhi Police Commissioner. Director General of Jammu and Kashmir joined through video conference.
In the second, more detailed meeting, Shah reviewed the preliminary investigation with the Union Home Secretary, heads of the Intelligence Bureau, NIA, National Security Guard (NSG), Directorate of Forensic Science Services and Forensic Science Laboratory (FSL), Delhi, and other senior officials.
Keeping in mind the seriousness of the incident, Shah directed all agencies to coordinate closely and ensure that no clue is left uninvestigated. They were briefed on the nature of the explosion, material recovered from the site and preliminary forensic findings.
In a post on Twitter, the Home Minister said, “Chaired review meetings on Delhi car blast with senior officials. Instructed them to find each and every culprit behind this incident. Every person involved in this act will face the full wrath of our agencies.”
According to sources, the Union Home Minister decided that the NIA will take over the investigation in view of the possible security implications. “NIA has been directed to conduct the investigation and submit the report as soon as possible,” sources told CNBC-TV18.
Furthermore, Shah directed the forensic teams to speed up their analysis. “The Home Minister directed the Forensic Science Laboratory to collate and examine the samples collected from the blast site and provide details of the blast as soon as possible,” sources said.
FSL has also been asked to match biological and physical samples collected from the remains recovered from the blasted vehicle. “Instructions were also given to match the samples collected from the bodies in the blasted car,” a senior source said.
Security has been tightened in the national capital, with Delhi Police intensifying checking at border points, metro stations and public places. NSG and FSL teams are present at the spot, assisting in sample collection and analysis to determine the nature of the explosive used.
Meanwhile, the NIA is expected to register a case soon and start its forensic and digital analysis. Initial findings of Delhi Police and local intelligence units have been shared with central agencies.
The Home Minister is likely to review the progress of the investigation after the preliminary forensic and NIA reports are submitted. For now, the Center has made it clear that any attempt to disturb public peace or national security will be dealt with sternly, with Shah’s message resonating throughout the security establishment – “every criminal will be hunted down.”