More than 24 hours after a low-intensity explosive device went off near a car parked on a service lane outside the Delhi High Court, the Delhi Police had no clue to the identity of the group behind the blast or the motive.
“We are yet to conclusively identify the group behind the explosion. The matter is under investigation,” Joint Commissioner of Police (Special Cell) R.S. Krishnia said on Thursday.
“Also, it is difficult to comment on the composition and nature of the bomb as we are awaiting the Central Forensic Science Laboratory's report.”
The explosives kept in a case resembling a toilet-kit bag went off near Gate No. 7. A battery-like object, wires and some nails were also found on the site by forensic experts. A white powder, suspected to be ammonium nitrate, was used.
Several theories
Though senior police officers remained tight-lipped about the investigation, sources said they were working on several theories.
According to one theory, the bomb was meant to be planted in the court, but the culprit could not gain entry to the premises and abandoned the bag in the parking lot.
Another is that the crude bomb was not meant to cause any major damage, and could be the handiwork of some disgruntled elements.
Some eyewitnesses are reported to have told the police that they had seen a motorcyclist coming from the direction of the parked car minutes before the explosion.
“We have been trying to get the description of the motorcyclist… the culprits could have come on foot or in a car. It seems the target has been chosen carefully as there are no closed-circuit television cameras there,” a senior police officer said.
