What challenges do investigative agencies face in probing terrorist blasts in densely populated urban areas like Delhi?

Investigative agencies face several unique challenges when probing terrorist blasts in densely populated urban areas like Delhi. The complexity of the urban environment, high population density, and the sophistication of modern terror operations make investigations difficult and resource-intensive.

• High Population Density: Large crowds and heavy footfall at blast sites make it difficult to secure the area, collect evidence, and identify witnesses or suspects quickly.
• Preservation of Evidence: In busy urban locations, evidence can be easily disturbed, destroyed, or contaminated by bystanders, emergency responders, or weather conditions.
• Multiple Entry and Exit Points: Urban areas have numerous roads, alleys, and public transport options, allowing perpetrators to escape quickly and making tracking movements challenging.
• Surveillance Overload: While cities like Delhi have extensive CCTV coverage, the sheer volume of footage makes it time-consuming to analyze and identify suspects.
• Witness Management: There may be many witnesses, but their accounts can be confusing, contradictory, or influenced by panic, making it harder to reconstruct events accurately.
• Media and Public Pressure: High-profile incidents attract intense media scrutiny and public anxiety, which can put pressure on agencies to deliver quick results, sometimes at the cost of thoroughness.
• Coordination with Multiple Agencies: Investigations often require coordination between local police, central agencies, intelligence units, and disaster response teams, which can lead to delays or miscommunication.
• Technological Sophistication of Terrorists: Use of encrypted communications, burner phones, and advanced explosives makes it harder to trace perpetrators and understand their networks.
• Social and Political Sensitivities: Delhi’s diverse population means that investigations must be sensitive to communal harmony and avoid actions that could escalate tensions.
• Urban Infrastructure Complexity: Dense construction, underground utilities, and crowded public spaces complicate forensic analysis and bomb disposal operations.