Ambala, January 12:- A case has come to light in Baldev Nagar police station of Ambala city where a youth tried to set fire to and explode his car by placing three gas cylinders in it. The police foiled the youth's attempt by extinguishing the fire on the spot. At the time the car was parked at the police station, about 250 police personnel were conducting a search operation in Dhulkot near the Air Force Station in connection with the preparations for Republic Day.
According to the information, the youth parked his car with three small gas cylinders in it and fled to the police station. The flammable substance caught fire in just five minutes. Fortunately, the police accused controlled the fire in time, otherwise if the fire had reached the gas cylinders, a major explosion could have occurred in the police station. Despite the number plate of the car and the accused being captured in the CCTV camera, the police have not been able to reach the conspirator of the blast in the police station even after several hours of the incident. Since the matter is serious, STF Ambala, CIA 1-2 and police teams of the police station are investigating it.
The personnel of Baldev Nagar police station first extinguished the fire, assuming that it might have started due to a short circuit, but when they searched for the car owner, no one was found. Then the information about the fire in the suspicious car parked in the police station was given to the SP of Ambala, and the entire police apparatus was put into action. The STF and the bomb squad searched the car thoroughly.
Fearing a possible explosion, a mechanic was also called in addition to the bomb squad and every part of the car was thoroughly examined. In search of explosive material, the car seats were torn and the air in the tires was also let out. The car was parked in the warehouse complex after 12 midnight.
After extinguishing the fire, when the police examined the Maruti 800 (DL 3 CAZ 6651), it was found that the car was in the name of Nagi, a resident of DDA Market in Sheikh Sarai, South Delhi. Nagi had bought the car second-hand. The car was also sold in 2020. It has not been renewed after May 27, 2024 and has been sold only on affidavits.
After being sold five times, when the police reached out to the person in whose name it was registered in Punjab, it was found that the car had been sold twice more and the RC had not been transferred yet. The car was last insured in 2012.
CCTV footage has revealed that a youth, believed to be from Punjab, had parked the car around 1:45 pm on Saturday and left on foot. Police teams first searched the surrounding area at 11:15 pm on Saturday and then checked the CCTV cameras installed at Dappad toll and Devi Nagar toll plaza. Various teams continued the investigation throughout the day on Sunday.
On Sunday, a two-member team of the National Investigation Agency (NIA) also reached the spot to investigate the matter. Meanwhile, a case has been registered against unknown persons under various sections of the Explosive Substances Act at Baldev Nagar police station. All the three 5-kg LPG cylinders found in the car had regulators attached to them. It is being told that the police have identified several suspects.
SP Ambala Ajit Singh Shekhawat says that efforts are being made to reach the culprits through car number and CCTV footage. No video was uploaded by any person on their phone after the fire. This matter is also being investigated from the angle of mischief or explosion.