Red Fort terror attack: Investigations into the Red Fort terror attack have confirmed that the “bomber” was Dr Umar Nabi. His identity was established through DNA testing. Investigators had long suspected him to be the prime accused, as he had been missing after the arrest of another key suspect Dr Muzammil Ahmad Ganai. He was also the one who had purchased the Hyundai i20 used in the terror attack just days earlier. However, confirmation came only after police collected DNA samples from his family and matched them with remains recovered from the car, India Today reported.
According to police, Umar went missing soon after nearly 2,900 kg of ammonium nitrate was recovered from a site in Faridabad. He had been employed at Al-Falah University but had not reported to work in the days leading up to the blast. His mobile phone had been switched off for over ten days, with the last traced location showing Al-Falah University, the outlet further reported.
Al-Falah University, where Dr Nabi worked, has distanced itself from the terror attack in Old Delhi and the “white-collar” terror module.
In a statement released on November 12, the university expressed that it was “deeply saddened and anguished” by the tragic incident that had shaken the nation. The administration clarified that its association with the accused was purely in a professional capacity and added that it would fully cooperate with investigating agencies to ensure a “logical, fair, and conclusive determination” in a matter of national security.
Red Fort terror attack
A terror attack near the Red Fort claimed the lives of at least 13 people and left several others injured on Monday evening. It occurred at 6:52 pm in a “slow-moving” Hyundai i20 car that stopped at a traffic signal near Gate No. 1 of the Lal Quila metro station. Minutes earlier, the car had exited the parking lot adjacent to the monument.
Following the incident, Delhi Police registered a case under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA) and the Explosives Act.
The terror attack, per a report by NDTV, was a “calendar error,” as the Red Fort remains closed to visitors on Mondays.
According to a Times of India report, coordinated operations by the Jammu & Kashmir Police, Haryana Police, Uttar Pradesh Police, and central intelligence agencies have led to the arrest of at least seven individuals linked to the Red Fort blast case. The National Investigation Agency (NIA) has since taken over the investigation.
Arrests in the terror attack
Among those arrested is Dr Muzammil Ganai, who reportedly conducted reconnaissance of the Red Fort area earlier this year. Another suspect, Dr Adeel Ahmad Rather, was taken into custody from Saharanpur in Uttar Pradesh. Both had been associated with Al-Falah University and were known to have worked closely with Dr Umar Nabi, identified as the “bomber” in the case.
Police have also detained Dr Shaheen Sayeed, another faculty member from Al-Falah University, described as an active aide and close associate of Dr Ganai. In a related operation, Dr Ahmed Mohiyuddin Saiyed, a Hyderabad-based doctor who completed his MBBS in China, was arrested by Gujarat ATS on November 8. Investigators allege that Dr Saiyed maintained contact with a handler named Abu Khadija, believed to be linked to the Islamic State-Khorasan Province (ISKP). His associates, Azad Suleman Sheikh and Mohammad Suhail Khan, aged 20 and 23 respectively, were also arrested.
Meanwhile, cleric Irfan Ahmad was apprehended for allegedly radicalising individuals and connecting them with militant groups operating in Kashmir. Another key arrest was Maulvi Ishtiaq, the Imam of Al-Falah Mosque in Faridabad’s Dhera Colony, from whose residence, located inside the Al-Falah University complex. The police recovered more than 2,500 kilograms of explosives.
Additionally, Dr Sajad Malik has been detained for questioning. It is yet not confirmed whether he is being held as a suspect or only for information related to his association with Dr Umar Nabi.