Blast Near Red Fort in New Delhi Leaves Multiple Dead Amid Heightened Communal Tensions; Propaganda Narratives Surge Online

New Delhi — At least eight people were killed and more than 25 injured after a vehicle exploded near the historic Red Fort on Sunday evening, according to local authorities. The blast occurred around 18:52 local time (13:22 GMT) when a gas cylinder inside a still-standing car detonated. Eyewitness Zeeshan, an auto-rickshaw driver who was injured in the incident, recalled, “The car in front of me was about two feet away. I don’t know whether there was a bomb in it or something else, but it exploded.”

Initial eyewitness accounts suggested a gas cylinder blast. Open-source footage and monitoring showed multiple CNG vehicles nearby, indicating that flames may have spread after the initial ignition. The exact cause of the first explosion remains officially undetermined. Local sources reported that the death toll could have risen to 12, though these figures have not been independently verified. 

Some media outlets speculated the blast may have involved a vehicle-borne improvised explosive device (VBIED), but police have not confirmed the presence of explosives.Multiple reports have emerged regarding the vehicle involved in the blast. Press Trust of India identified it as a Swift Dzire, while India TV and Home Minister Amit Shah cited a Hyundai i20. India TV named the vehicle’s owner as Salman, whereas an account allegedly linked to the intelligence agency RAW, named Indian Defence Alert, identified the owner as Muhammad Nadeem. Eyewitnesses, however, claimed the vehicle was a Suzuki Maruti. Authorities have reportedly detained both said individuals in connection with the investigation.

The Red Fort, one of India’s most visited heritage sites, lies adjacent to a busy commercial district and metro station. Following the incident, the Central Industrial Security Force (CISF) issued a nationwide high alert. States including Bihar, Haryana, Kerala, Chandigarh, and Mumbai have tightened security at airports, metro systems, heritage sites, and government facilities.

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi expressed condolences to the victims’ families and was briefed by Home Minister Amit Shah. 

Minority Discontent Under BJP Policies

The explosion comes amid intensified security operations across several Indian states targeting Muslims. In recent weeks, Indian-held Jammu & Kashmir Police arrested Dr Adeel Ahmed Rather, a resident of Qazigund, from a hospital in Saharanpur for allegedly pasting Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM) posters in Srinagar. Raids following his arrest uncovered 300 kg of RDX, an AK-47 rifle, and other materials. Another doctor, Dr. Muzamil, was subsequently detained, and a further investigation at the rented residence of Dr. Mufazil Shakeel in Faridabad led to the seizure of roughly 360 kg of ammonium nitrate-based substance and an additional rifle.

In Gujarat, three individuals, Fardin Sheikh, Saifulla Qureshi, and Mohammad Faiq, were also arrested on terror-related suspicion, while a female doctor from Lucknow was detained in connection with a terror module operating across Jammu and Kashmir, Haryana, and Uttar Pradesh. Human rights observers note that the repeated communal framing of these arrests has intensified fear and a sense of insecurity among India’s minority Muslim communities.

In Assam, the government’s ongoing demolition of over a hundred houses in Bangladeshi-origin Muslim settlements has drawn criticism from rights organizations, who describe the actions as a clear example of growing religious polarization. Analysts note that such measures, combined with the timing of the Red Fort blast, heighten communal tensions, especially amid ongoing state election campaigns.

Alleged Political Manipulation and False-Flag Narratives

Analysts argue that the timing and location of the Red Fort explosion, near a key commercial hub, metro station, and close to the Israeli embassy, raises concerns about the Bahartya Janta Party (BJP) government exploiting the incident to bolster electoral advantage. Historical patterns of politically charged “false-flag” events during election cycles are cited as precedent. The first phase of Bihar elections reportedly did not favor the BJP, and observers suggest that framing the blast as a terror incident conveniently advances a narrative of national insecurity, potentially generating sympathy votes.

Social media narratives have amplified this perception. Accounts linked to Afghanistan’s General Directorate of Intelligence (GDI), alongside pro-Hindutva networks, circulated posts attributing responsibility to Pakistan within minutes of the incident. Some even shared fabricated statements implicating Lashkar-e-Taiba. Analysts note that these coordinated online efforts mirror past patterns where Indian and Afghan intelligence-linked accounts disseminated identical messaging to influence public perception.

Meanwhile, New Delhi Police initially stated that the explosion resulted from a gas cylinder, not terrorism. Authorities have found no evidence linking the blast to any terrorist group. Despite these preliminary findings, observers note ongoing pressure on Delhi Police to reframe the incident, while Indian media outlets have reportedly downplayed or blacked out the initial report, fueling speculation about political motives.

Investigations and Ongoing Security Measures

Authorities are examining all possibilities, including accidental ignition, CNG malfunction, criminal activity, or a deliberate attack. Forensic teams continue analyzing debris and burn patterns to determine the exact cause. Prime Minister Modi and Home Minister Shah have instructed security forces to maintain vigilance and ensure public safety, while officials urge citizens to avoid sharing unverified claims on social media. Notably, a student in Delhi reported observing unusual security presence near the Red Fort metro area, police, army, and media—several hours before the explosion.

The blast highlights the intersecting challenges of communal tensions, intensified security operations, and political maneuvering. Analysts emphasize that the incident reflects deeper societal fault lines in India, where minority communities experience discontent under extremist policies, and politically motivated narratives often exploit tragedies to gain electoral advantage.