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Terror Angle Emerges After Group Claims Responsibility on X (Img: X)
Ghaziabad: The explosion that occurred at a police outpost on Friday night is now being investigated as a potential terror attack. A little known group has released posts and a video on social media, describing the incident as an "operation against the Hindu fascist government."
The blast, which took place at the Vasundhara police outpost around 9:00 PM on Friday, shattered windows, damaged an air conditioner, and caused cracks in the walls. Sub-Inspector Vikas Kumar, who was inside the outpost at the time, remained unharmed, while an individual named Ishan who had arrived to deliver food sustained minor injuries to his face and head.
Initially, the police suspected that the explosion might have been caused by a malfunction in the air conditioner or by a cache of seized, illegal firecrackers stored at the outpost. However, late at night, an organization calling itself 'Tehreek-ul-Mujahideen Hindustan' claimed responsibility for the blast via a post on 'X' (formerly Twitter), prompting security agencies to be placed on high alert.
The post, made around 2:30 AM on Saturday from an account named 'Ghazi 2', contained a video message featuring a masked individual speaking in Urdu and Hindi. It also included a statement in English, accompanied by the organization's name and two black, circular insignias depicting swords.
The statement described the explosion as an "attack on the police" and a "response" against a "system" that "keeps our women and children imprisoned in detention camps in Assam and runs bulldozers through our neighborhoods." The post further warned that the organization "will return soon with a new operation and a new message." The Uttar Pradesh Anti-Terrorism Squad (ATS) has initiated an investigation into the matter under the supervision of DIG Abhishek Yadav.
On Saturday, teams from the Special Task Force (STF), the Intelligence Bureau (IB), a special investigation unit of the Delhi Police, and the National Investigation Agency (NIA) also inspected the scene. According to the police, the account from which the post was made has since been deleted. A cyber police team is currently analyzing digital footprints to determine the origin of the post. Investigators are also examining whether the organization mentioned in the post has any actual connection to the blast. Furthermore, they are exploring the possibility that the explosive material might have been thrown from the Hindon Elevated Road which passes directly above the police outpost and whether it is feasible to target a building from that vantage point. The road is situated approximately 35 feet above the ground. The police are currently reviewing footage from CCTV cameras installed on the elevated road and in the surrounding areas.
A scooter with a Delhi registration number was found abandoned on the elevated road, 1.5 kilometers away from the police outpost. The police have seized the vehicle, although no link to the blast has been established thus far.
According to sources, the owner of the scooter a man named Momin, a resident of Delhi contacted the police himself and offered to assist with the investigation. He explained that his scooter developed a technical fault while he was on his way home to Mayur Vihar, forcing him to leave it on the elevated road. Officials stated that Momin’s claim is currently being verified. DCP (Trans-Hindon) Rijul Kumar stated that the initial investigation at the scene yielded no evidence of explosive materials, gunpowder, or chemical residues. However, he confirmed that the blast shattered the glass in two windows of the police outpost and caused a crack in one of the walls.
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Ghaziabad Police Commissioner J. Ravinder Goud stated that the police are awaiting scientific evidence before drawing any conclusions regarding the blast. "The bomb disposal squad, field unit, and forensic team have inspected the site," Goud said. "The cause of the blast has not yet been determined. He added that the police are on high alert following the incident, and samples collected from the scene have been sent to a forensic laboratory in Agra for analysis.
Police sources indicate that this organization was previously unknown; however, its modus operandi suggests the potential involvement of the ISI-Shahzad Bhatti network. Bhatti had previously established a similar group called 'Tehreek-e-Taliban Hindustan,' which allegedly targeted police personnel and stations in Punjab. Recently, the UP ATS uncovered a module in the state linked to Bhatti , this module used social media to lure ordinary citizens into espionage activities by offering them money. The case was subsequently handed over to the NIA. Based on a complaint filed by Sub-Inspector Vikas Singh, an FIR has been registered at the Indirapuram police station under the 'Explosives Act, 1884' and the 'Prevention of Damage to Public Property Act.'
