NIA to probe ’08 Mehrauli blast

The Delhi Police have decided to approach the National Investigation Agency (NIA) to investigate the explosion that took place in Mehrauli, barely two weeks after the September 13 serial bomb blasts in 2008. Vijaita Singh reports.

The Delhi Police have decided to approach the National Investigation Agency (NIA) to investigate the explosion that took place in Mehrauli, barely two weeks after the September 13 serial bomb blasts in 2008.

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After they failed to find any clue in the case — effectively hitting a dead end — the Delhi Police have now decided to approach the NIA to investigate further.

The incident was reported on September 27, 2008, when two motorcyclists dropped a packet — a crude bomb laced with acid and shrapnel — at the busy flower market in Mehrauli, just metres away from a mosque. The police suspect the involvement of right-wing fundamentalist group led by Swami Aseemanand in the explosion that killed two persons, including a child.

Aseemanand, who is at present in NIA custody, had recently confessed to his group’s involvement in the 2007 Samjhauta Express blasts, and the Malegaon blasts in 2006, as part of his “bomb for bomb” theory.

“We have decided to approach the NIA to investigate the case. As we could not establish any motive or catch any person in the case, we will explore this angle as well,” said a senior police officer.

In a similarly mysterious blast, a crude bomb exploded near the Mehrauli bus terminal on March 29, 2009, creating a panic in the area.

“The explosives were packed in a ‘spray bottle’ with three- to four-inch long iron nails. The bottle exploded when a cycle rickshaw hit it, causing a panic. However, no one was injured. Had the cyclist not punctured it could have caused greater damage," said the officer.

The police had earlier suspected some Bangladeshi gangs in the explosion, and had even gone to West Bengal on their trail that later turned cold.

In the last 10 years, 14 such mysterious explosions have taken place in and around Hauz Khas, Malviya Nagar and Mehrauli, but the police have no clue on either the motive or the group behind these explosions.