New Delhi [India], November 12 (HBTV): Since the Delhi car blast killed at least eight people near Red Fort, security forces from different states have arrested seven individuals allegedly linked to a ‘transnational terror module’. Authorities have also seized thousands of kilograms of explosives, detonators, timers, and other bomb-making materials.
Multiple arrests were made earlier in Haryana's Faridabad, followed by arrests in Jammu and Kashmir a few days before the blast took place. According to police, Dr Umar, who was allegedly driving the car involved in the explosion near Red Fort, was also a member of the module. He allegedly accelerated the plans after the group was busted. He is believed to have close ties with two other doctors linked to the module.
According to security forces, Dr Umar met two others while living in Al-Falah Medical College — Dr Muzammil Ahmad Ganai and Dr Adeel Rather. Ganai, also known as Musaib, is a resident of Koli in Pulwama, Jammu and Kashmir, and a former student of Al-Falah Hospital. Police stated that they recovered more than 300 kilograms of explosives from his rented residence. Rather, a graduate of Srinagar's Government Medical College in 2018, served as a senior resident at Anantnag's Government Medical College between 2022 and 2024. Ganai was among the first to be arrested, and Rather was detained soon after.
The third alleged member is a cleric, Irfan Ahmad, who is said to be the imam of a mosque in Shopian, Jammu and Kashmir. He allegedly played a role in ‘radicalising’ others and helping them join the module. The fourth member, Arif Nisar Dar, is a resident of Nowgam in Jammu and Kashmir and is believed to have been in contact with the cleric and Dr Ganai.
Police said at least three individuals are residents of Nowgam, while another is from Ganderbal. Officials stated that Yasir Ul Ashraf, another alleged member and a resident of Nowgam, runs a local business and manages his uncle’s shop. The seventh alleged member, Zameer Ahmad Ahanger, also belongs to Ganderbal and is locally known as ‘Mutlasha’.
According to police, the group used ‘encrypted channels for indoctrination, coordination, movement, and logistics’. The module was initially busted in Faridabad, where police questioned students, the principal, and faculty members associated with Dr Muzammil. More than 52 people were examined during the investigation.
In a major breakthrough on Monday, Jammu and Kashmir Police, in coordination with Haryana Police, recovered 360 kilograms of suspected ammonium nitrate and 2,900 kilograms of IED-making materials — including chemicals, detonators, and wires — from an apartment in Faridabad. Dr Muzammil and Aadil Rather were arrested in this case.
Following a series of raids on October 20, October 27, and November 5, multiple arrests were made in Shopian, Ganderbal, and Uttar Pradesh's Saharanpur. Dr Adeel was arrested in Saharanpur, according to sources. Two days later, an AK-56 rifle and ammunition were recovered at a hospital in Anantnag, followed by more weapons and explosives recovered from a location in Faridabad.
On November 9, a person named Madrasi, a resident of Dhauj in Faridabad, was arrested. The next day, a consignment of explosives weighing 2,563 kilograms was recovered from the house of Hafeez Mohammad Ishtiaq, an imam at Al-Falah Mosque in Faridabad's Dhera Colony.
During these operations, Umar, also a member of the module and working as a medical practitioner at Al-Falah Medical College, changed his location repeatedly as security forces increased pressure.
Investigators said security agencies successfully ‘dismantled the Faridabad module’, recovered large quantities of explosive material, and prevented a major conspiracy aimed at causing extensive damage in the country.
As soon as news of the blast emerged on Tuesday, Delhi Police and other security agencies reached the site. Home Minister Amit Shah directed NSG, NIA, and forensic teams to inspect the location. The injured were taken to the nearest hospital, and ownership of the vehicle used in the blast was confirmed. The probe has since been handed over to the National Investigation Agency.
(ANI)