Residents condemn Red Fort blast, assert Indian Muslims reject violence

Residents gathered at Dargah Khwajah Qutub Sahab in Delhi on Sunday to protest the car blast near Red Fort that killed 15 people and injured several others on November 10.

The crowd condemned the attack and called upon the government to punish those responsible. They stated that Indian Muslims supported the nation and rejected violence.

The blast occurred when a Hyundai i20 car exploded near the Red Fort Metro Station. One protester expressed pain over an educated Muslim's role in the incident.

"We have gathered at Dargah Khwajah Qutub Sahab to pay tribute to those who died in the Red Fort car blast, and to condemn the attack. We demand the government to punish the accused," a protester told news agency ANI.

"We were more upset because of the involvement of an educated Muslim in the attack. I congratulate the nation's agencies for preventing a major attack. I want to give a message to all the Muslims of the world—that Indian Muslims stand with India and are intolerant to such incidents. Though the involvement of educated Muslims is not new, take the example of Osama Bin Laden."

Another protester stressed that Islam opposed radicalism. "We have gathered here to strongly condemn the attacks. Islam never supports radicalism and terrorism and we will not give space to terrorists in our Kabristan," the protester said.

In a related update, a special National Investigation Agency (NIA) court at Patiala House extended the NIA custody of four accused by 10 days. The accused include Dr Muzammil Shakeel Ganai from Pulwama, Jammu and Kashmir; Dr Adeel Ahmed Rather from Anantnag, Jammu and Kashmir; Dr Shaheen Saeed from Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh; and Mufti Irfan Ahmad Wagay from Shopian, Jammu and Kashmir.

The NIA sought further remand to investigate the blast and their roles. Three other accused appeared in court for legal formalities. The agency has arrested four more prime accused in Srinagar, Jammu and Kashmir, bringing the total to six. The NIA took over the probe and has been working with the state police to track the terrorist module.

The protest ended with prayers for the victims.