UNB has learnt that the decision to hand over the case to the National Investigation Agency (NIA) was taken by the Home Ministry after Prime Minister Narendra Modi Monday assured his Israeli counterpart Benjamin Netanyahu of bringing to justice the perpetrators of the bombings near the Israeli Embassy on January 29.
Also read: Blast outside Israeli Embassy in Indian capital
During his telephonic conversation with the Israeli PM, Modi said that India accords the highest importance to the safety and security of Israeli diplomats and premises, and would deploy all its resources to find and punish the perpetrators, according to a statement issued by the Prime Minister's Office.
"NIA has already been involved in the case, though Delhi Police was spearheading the investigations. Now, the elite anti-terror agency will officially handle the case. With NIA in picture, the government is hopeful of a breakthrough at the earliest," sources said.
Friday's blast outside the Israeli Embassy occurred around 5pm, barely two kilometres from a high-security area where Indian President Ram Nath Kovind and Prime Minister Modi had gathered to witness the British-era 'Beating the Retreat' ceremony marking the end of the country's four-day Republic Day celebrations.
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Though no one was injured in the blast, the windscreens of at least three cars parked near the Embassy were shattered in the impact of the low-intensity improvised device, Delhi Police had said in a statement.
Police sources told UNB that it was an improvised explosive device that had been left on the pavement near the Israeli Embassy, wrapped in a polythene bag. The Embassy is located in a high-security zone on Dr APJ Abdul Kalam Road, named after India's former President Dr APJ Abdul Kalam. Modi's official residence is barely 200 metres from the Embassy.
After the explosion, investigators recovered a letter purportedly addressed to Israeli Ambassador to India, Ron Malka. It swears revenge for the killing of Iran Quds Commander Qassem Soleimani, and Abu Mehdhi Al Muhandis, in a US drone attack last year.
The letter reads: “This is just a trailer presented to you, that we can observe you, from eating to... Mind it, all the participants and partners of Israelian terrorist ideology will be no more in existence. Now get ready for a big and better revenge of our heros (Soleimani, Muhandis and Fakhrizadeh).”
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Friday's was the second explosion in eight years outside the Israeli Embassy. In 2012, at least four people, including the wife of a Israeli diplomat, Tal Yeshova, were injured when a bomb exploded in her car.