Visuals of Ghaziabad's Vasundhara police outpost, which became a key focus of the ongoing investigation after a late-night explosion injured a delivery agent. (Img: X)
Ghaziabad: A team of the Uttar Pradesh Anti-Terrorism Squad (UP ATS)reached Indirapuram Police Station on Saturday to investigate a late-night explosion that occurred at the Vasundhara police outpost on November 6. The blast took place at around 9 pm on Friday, damaging the police outpost's air-conditioning unit, shattering windowpanes and reportedly causing cracks in portions of the building's walls.
A 20-year-old delivery agent sustained injuries after shattered window glass struck him during the incident, while police personnel present inside the facility escaped without reported injuries. The incident came to light as officials began examining the circumstances surrounding the blast, including the possibility of an electrical or mechanical malfunction, a gas leak or other external factors.
An X account later attributed responsibility to an organisation identified as Tehreek-ul-Mujahideen Hindustan. Police said that they were yet to authenticate the social media claim or establish any terrorist connection. Investigation was underway, they added.
Additional Commissioner of Police Raj Karan Nayar, Indirapuram ACP Suryabali Maurya and forensic personnel also visited the site to assess the damage and gather evidence. Police officials indicated that the exact cause and nature of the explosion would be determined only after scientific examination.
A delivery agent was injured when the explosion occurred inside the police outpost, where a sub-inspector was also present. According to Indirapuram ACP Suryabali Maurya, the delivery agent had arrived at the premises to deliver an item when the explosion took place. The impact shattered glass panes, with fragments striking the delivery agent.
Deputy Commissioner of Police Rijul, who oversees the Trans Hindon Zone, said the injured delivery agent was taken to a hospital for medical attention. His condition was reported to be stable.
The blast also damaged the outpost's air-conditioning unit and caused visible structural damage, including cracks in sections of the walls and broken windowpanes. Visuals from the location showed a blackened AC unit and damaged portions of the premises. The area was secured as investigative teams began examining the site.
A preliminary assessment by police has pointed towards a possible explosion involving the air-conditioning unit installed at the outpost. However, officials have cautioned against drawing conclusions before the forensic examination is completed.
DCP Rijul indicated that the building was old and investigators were also examining whether an underground sewer line or gas pipeline passing through the area could have contributed to the incident.
The field unit, bomb disposal team and fire department were called to inspect the premises and assess potential safety hazards. Police officials also indicated that no fire broke out inside the outpost following the explosion.
The investigation is examining whether the damage originated within the AC unit or whether an external factor triggered the incident. The precise source of the explosion, including whether any explosive substance was involved, remains subject to forensic verification. The scientific examination of the damaged equipment, debris and surrounding infrastructure will be crucial in determining the cause.
The investigation has acquired a sensitive dimension after an X account identified as Ghazi 2 circulated a post claiming responsibility for the explosion in the name of an organisation calling itself Tehreek-ul-Mujahideen Hindustan.
The account allegedly claimed that the organisation was behind the incident and also issued a threat to blow up the Vasundhara police outpost. The post has drawn the attention of investigators, who are examining its authenticity, the identity of the account operator and whether the purported claim has any connection with the actual explosion.
However, the alleged claim of responsibility remains unverified. No investigating agency has publicly established that the organisation named in the post was involved in the incident. The emergence of such a claim, by itself, does not establish a terror link or confirm that the explosion was a deliberate attack. India Today +1
An important aspect of the investigation is the determination of whether the explosion involved an explosive substance or resulted from an accidental incident. According to a preliminary assessment reported on Saturday, investigators had not found traces of explosive material, gunpowder or chemical residue at the site. Samples collected by forensic teams have been sent for further examination, with the results expected to provide greater clarity about the nature and origin of the blast.
An initial possibility being examined is that a firecracker may have landed in or near the air-conditioning unit, triggering the explosion. However, this remains a preliminary investigative theory and has not been established as the definitive cause.
Police are also examining other possibilities, including a mechanical or electrical malfunction, a gas pipeline-related incident and the possibility of an external object being thrown towards the premises. Reports have also indicated that investigators are examining CCTV footage to reconstruct the sequence of events and identify any suspicious activity around the outpost.
The forensic examination will be critical in distinguishing between an accidental explosion and any deliberate act. Until the scientific findings and investigative evidence are available, no particular theory can be treated as conclusive.
The incident is also being investigated against the backdrop of recent intelligence inputs concerning possible attempts to target police personnel and security establishments in Uttar Pradesh.
Recently, the Uttar Pradesh Police had claimed to have busted an alleged module linked to Pakistan's Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) and Shahzad Bhatti. Uttar Pradesh Additional Director General of Police (Law and Order) Amitabh Yash had indicated that the accused were allegedly planning attacks targeting police personnel and security forces.
These developments have added to the security context in which the Vasundhara explosion is being examined. However, investigators have not established any direct connection between the previously detected module and the incident at the Ghaziabad police outpost.
The involvement of the ATS is part of the effort to examine all possible dimensions, including the authenticity of the online threat, the circumstances of the explosion and any potential security implications.
The investigation is expected to progress on the basis of forensic findings, examination of the damaged air-conditioning unit, CCTV footage and other evidence collected from the premises. The UP ATS, local police, forensic specialists and bomb disposal personnel are examining different aspects of the incident. Investigators will also need to establish whether the social media account's purported claim has any credible connection with the explosion.
For residents of Vasundhara and adjoining areas, the incident has raised concerns about the safety of public infrastructure and police establishments. The fact that a delivery agent was injured while carrying out routine work has also brought the human consequences of the explosion into focus.
The immediate priority for the investigating agencies is to establish the precise cause of the blast, verify the online threat and determine whether the incident was accidental or involved deliberate action.
For now, the police have not confirmed a terror attack, and the alleged claim of responsibility remains under investigation. The forensic report and subsequent findings are likely to be decisive in establishing what happened inside the Vasundhara police outpost on Friday night.
