Ghaziabad blast probe finds no evidence of IED at Vasundhara police outpost

Ghaziabad: Preliminary searches at Vasundhara police outpost, which was rocked by an explosion on Friday night, have found no explosive residue, gunpowder, chemical traces or identifiable components of an improvised explosive device (IED). No detonator, battery, connecting wires or other material suggesting a bomb has been recovered, leaving agencies without physical evidence so far to support a deliberate attack.Police are examining other causes, including an electrical fault in an air-conditioner and seized illegal firecrackers stored at the outpost. They are also checking if a firecracker struck the AC unit. Forensic samples have been sent to Agra for analysis.“The cause of the explosion has not been established yet. We are investigating every angle. Further action will be based on findings,” Ghaziabad police commissioner J Ravinder Goud said.DCP (trans-Hindon) Rijul Kumar also said initial checks found no explosives, gunpowder or chemical residue. The blast, around 9pm on Nov 6, shattered two windowpanes and cracked a wall. A delivery worker suffered cuts from flying glass, while a sub-inspector on duty escaped unhurt.Officials said they were also assessing if the outpost’s condition magnified the damage. The 21-year-old building had deteriorated and was allegedly built with substandard material.Police are checking whether an object was thrown from Hindon Elevated Road, around 35ft above the outpost. Municipal corporation cameras along Shri Ram Setu elevated road were allegedly not working, so teams are relying on traffic police footage and plan to analyse mobile tower records.The terror angle emerged after an X account, ‘Ghazi 2’, posted a video and statement around 2.30am on Nov 7, claiming responsibility for Tehreek-ul-Mujahideen Hindustan. The account has since been deleted. Police are seeking information from X to identify its operators and verify the group’s role. The masked speaker in the video called the blast an attack on police.UP ATS, led by DIG Abhishek Yadav, is leading the probe, while NIA, STF, IB and Delhi Police’s special cell are also involved. Police sources are checking possible links to Pakistan-based Shehzad Bhatti’s network.An FIR has been registered against unidentified accused following a complaint by sub-inspector Vikas Singh. It has invoked the Explosives Act, 1884, the Prevention of Damage to Public Property Act and BNS sections 326(f) and (g), covering damage by fire or explosives and destruction of a dwelling or place of worship, and 132, for assault or criminal force to deter a public servant from duty.You Can Also Check: Gold Rate in Noida | Silver Rate in Noida | Bank Holidays in Noida | Public Holidays in Noida | Noida AQI | Weather in Noida | Petrol Price in Noida | Diesel Price in Noida | CNG Price in Noida | LPG Price in NoidaStay updated with the latest Noida news. Download the TOI App.