As investigations into the deadly blast near Delhi’s Red Fort continue, agencies across India have launched a massive crackdown on online misinformation and provocative content. Five individuals from Assam have been arrested for allegedly spreading inflammatory posts linked to the explosion, while the Jammu and Kashmir Police has issued an advisory urging citizens to use social media responsibly.
The blast, which ripped through a slow-moving car near the Red Fort Metro Station on Monday evening, killed at least 12 people and injured several others. Since then, state police units have been placed on high alert, particularly in regions with previous records of online radical activity.
Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma confirmed on Wednesday (Nov 12) that five individuals were taken into custody for posting content that allegedly glorified terrorism and attempted to incite communal unrest in the wake of the Delhi blast.
“In connection with the recent Delhi blast, Assam Police has arrested five individuals for spreading offensive and inflammatory content online. We will act swiftly and firmly against anyone misusing social media to spread hatred or glorify terror,” Sarma said in a post on X (formerly Twitter).
The arrested individuals were identified as Mattiur Rahman from Darrang, Hassan Ali from Goalpara, Abdul Latif from Chirang, Wajhul Kamal from Kamrup, and Nur Amin Ahmed from Bongaigaon.
According to officials, the accused had posted or shared misleading visuals and communal remarks that were “capable of disrupting peace and harmony.” The posts have since been taken down, and cybercrime units are scanning hundreds of accounts for similar activities.
Meanwhile, the Jammu and Kashmir Police issued a strong advisory warning citizens against sharing or reacting to content that could “hurt public sentiments, disturb peace, or undermine national unity.”
The official statement said, “It has been observed that certain individuals are posting or reacting irresponsibly to sensitive incidents on social media, including by sharing anti-national or communal content or mocking emojis related to the recent Red Fort incident, in which innocent civilians were martyred.”
Police said dedicated teams are monitoring social media accounts and will take legal action against those spreading hate, misinformation, or content disrespectful to victims.
Following the explosion, central agencies have urged all states to heighten digital surveillance, particularly in regions with histories of extremist online activity. Cyber units have been instructed to coordinate with the National Investigation Agency (NIA) and the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) to track digital footprints linked to terror propaganda.
Officials have also flagged a rise in “meme-based misinformation” and content attempting to downplay the severity of the attack, which investigators describe as a “white-collar terror module” involving educated professionals linked to Al-Falah University.
The November 10 blast occurred when a car laden with explosives detonated near the Red Fort Metro Station, killing 12 people and injuring several others. Preliminary findings suggest the attack was carried out by a Pulwama-based network associated with Jaish-e-Mohammed and Ansar Ghazwat-ul-Hind.
Security agencies are on high alert nationwide as the probe continues to uncover connections spanning Kashmir, Haryana, and Uttar Pradesh, with several university-linked suspects already under investigation.
