New Delhi, November 12, 2025 — Security and intelligence agencies in India are on the lookout for at least two additional modules of an alleged terror network following the car explosion near the Red Fort in Old Delhi on Monday evening. Officials said the suspected network, which is believed to have planned coordinated terror attacks across the country, has gone partially underground after several arrests in Jammu and Kashmir and Haryana.

At least two Delhi Police officers assisting the National Investigation Agency (NIA) in the ongoing investigation confirmed that the absconding modules could consist of one or more operatives each. The officials requested anonymity due to the sensitivity of the operation. They stated that the modules went into hiding soon after authorities apprehended at least two individuals connected to the network and recovered nearly 3,000 kilograms of explosive substances along with other incriminating materials.

The deadly blast, which took place in a white Hyundai i20 car near the Red Fort metro station, has claimed 10 lives and injured at least 20 others. Witnesses reported hearing the explosion up to two kilometers away, while visuals from the scene showed mangled vehicles, burnt autos, motorbikes, and e-rickshaws, along with debris scattered across the road. The Delhi Fire Department received the first call at 6:55 pm on Monday, and firefighters had managed to douse the blaze by 7:29 pm. The first victims were admitted to Lok Nayak Jai Prakash (LNJP) Hospital around 7 pm.

The NIA formally took over the investigation on Tuesday, following the registration of a first information report (FIR) under anti-terror provisions against unknown persons. No individual or outfit had been officially named in the FIR at that stage. However, preliminary intelligence points to possible links with the Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM) terror outfit and a doctor from Pulwama, Jammu and Kashmir, who is suspected of being involved in planning multiple terror strikes over the past year. Investigators have confirmed that the group had already procured hundreds of kilograms of ammonium nitrate and other explosive substances, highlighting the potentially large-scale threat posed by the network.

Officials stressed that they are unsure whether the absconding operatives are still carrying explosives in vehicles or have abandoned them in isolated or public locations. “It cannot be said with certainty that the absconding members of the two modules are still using the cars they fled in or whether they abandoned the vehicles in any secluded or crowded places. Their arrest as quickly as possible is important to make further progress in our operation aimed at busting the entire network and unravelling the identities of the masterminds,” said one officer.

Intelligence agencies are coordinating raids across multiple regions, including Delhi-NCR, Jammu and Kashmir, Haryana, and Uttar Pradesh. These efforts aim to apprehend any remaining operatives, seize explosive materials, and prevent potential attacks. Authorities have confirmed that ongoing operations remain highly sensitive, and details about suspects’ identities or movements are being withheld to avoid alerting the fugitives.

According to security officials, early evidence indicates that the Red Fort blast may have been triggered by panic or miscalculation during the transport of explosives. The initial probe suggests that the explosion might have been unintended, rather than a premeditated suicide attack, but the investigation is still ongoing. Forensic teams have collected samples from the blast site, including explosive residues and cartridges, to establish the nature and origin of the explosives used.

The absconding modules’ potential involvement underscores the sophisticated and coordinated nature of the terror network. Investigators have indicated that the group had been operating under the guidance of handlers and had meticulously planned attacks across India, acquiring and stockpiling explosives for months. The ongoing operations aim not only to capture the fugitives but also to dismantle the broader terror infrastructure and prevent further attacks.

Officials emphasised that the arrest of the remaining suspects is critical to understanding the full scale of the network and identifying key masterminds behind the operation. The ongoing probe involves close coordination between the NIA, Delhi Police Special Cell, and various state anti-terror units to track down fugitives, verify intelligence leads, and secure explosive caches that could pose a continuing threat to public safety.

As the investigation unfolds, authorities have urged the public to remain vigilant and report any suspicious activity in the capital and surrounding regions. “We have some information about the absconding suspects, including the identities of a couple of them. But we cannot share anything further because our operation, including raids, is ongoing and we don’t want to alert the absconding suspects,” one senior officer said.

The Red Fort explosion has reignited discussions on national security preparedness and the need for rapid intelligence coordination to prevent terror incidents in high-profile public areas. Investigators are continuing to piece together the chain of events leading up to the blast and tracing the network’s connections across multiple states.