3 min readNew DelhiNov 2, 2024 09:07 AM IST
First published on: Nov 2, 2024 at 03:10 AM IST
THE EXPLOSION that took place outside the CRPF School in Delhi’s Rohini on October 20 may have been caused by burning cigarette butts — thrown by a man walking his dog — coming in contact with industrial waste in a garbage dump, according to investigators.
Based on circumstantial evidence, Delhi Police and other central intelligence agencies probing the blast have not found any “terror angle” yet, it is learnt.
At 7.47 am on October 20, a loud explosion took place near the CRPF School in Prashant Vihar area of Rohini’s Sector 14, prompting police and a bomb squad to rush to the spot, along with the fire brigade.
The explosion, initially believed to have been caused by a crude bomb, damaged the school wall and shattered the windows of a car parked nearby. After visiting the spot, forensic experts hinted that traces of potassium chlorate, hydrogen peroxide and some electrical wires were found at the site.
“Forensic experts and technical experts of National Security Guard are being consulted by Delhi Police to ascertain the exact identity of all the traces/powders recovered from the spot, but they are yet to submit their report. As of now, the detonator hasn’t been found,” a senior police officer said.
After scanning footage of a CCTV camera installed near the spot, the investigators zeroed in on around 10 people who were questioned.
“Among the 10 suspects, a North Delhi-based businessman was also questioned as he was found to be present around five minutes before the explosion. He is a resident of Prashant Vihar and came on Sunday morning to walk his dog. The CCTV footage shows that he was smoking and after questioning him, it came to the fore that he left lit cigarette butts before leaving the spot,” the police officer said.
The spot where the explosion took place, an officer said, was usually used for dumping garbage and has a public urinal.
“Preliminary investigation after questioning all the suspects, scanning the CCTV footage, and based on the circumstantial evidence, so far there is no foul play… There is no terror angle as of now… Prime facie it appears that some industrial waste materials were dumped in the garbage and got ignited due to the lit cigarette butts… But we are still waiting to get the final report of the FSL and NSG,” the officer said.
After the explosion, a pro-Khalistan group had posted CCTV footage of the incident on Telegram along with a message “warning” India.
Site of explosion outside CRPF School in Delhi’s Rohini. (File Photo) 
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