DNA Testing Confirms Driver of Explosive-Laden Vehicle
DNA tests conducted on samples collected from the site of the explosion near the Red Fort have confirmed that Dr. Umar Nabi was the driver of the vehicle involved in the blast earlier this week, according to police sources on Thursday. Samples from Umar’s mother were collected on Tuesday and sent for analysis. The results indicated a match with the remains found at the explosion site.
Connection to Terrorist Module
A source stated, “The DNA results confirm that Umar was indeed driving the car used in the explosion.” Umar was identified as a key member of a recently uncovered ‘white-collar’ terrorist module. He hails from the Koil village in Pulwama, Jammu and Kashmir.
The blast occurred on Monday evening in a slow-moving car near the Red Fort, just hours after police dismantled a terrorist module linked to Jaish-e-Mohammed and Ansar Ghazwat-ul-Hind, arresting eight individuals, including three doctors. Authorities seized approximately 3,000 kilograms of ammonium nitrate, potassium chlorate, and sulfur following the operation targeting the module spread across Jammu and Kashmir, Haryana, and Uttar Pradesh.
Disappearance and Investigation
Police reported that Umar had been missing since November 9, just a day after nearly 2,900 kilograms of ammonium nitrate were recovered from a warehouse in Faridabad. It is believed he went underground near the village of Dhauj, having turned off five phones since October 30 and failing to attend university duties.
The investigation has also implicated several others, including Dr. Shaheen Shahid, a former lecturer arrested in Faridabad, who is suspected of being poised to lead the Indian unit of Jaish-e-Mohammed’s first female branch, Jamaat-ul-Mominat. Two other doctors, Muzammil Ahmad Ganai and Azmul Ahmad Malik, were also taken into custody for questioning regarding their alleged roles in the network.
Radicalization and Behavioral Changes
Following the arrest of Maulvi Irfan, who is believed to have radicalized the doctors, raids were conducted in South Kashmir, including on the homes of Jamaat-e-Islami activists.
Relatives described Dr. Umar as a quiet, introverted individual who preferred solitude and spent hours reading. However, police sources noted a change in his behavior in recent months, as he frequently traveled between Faridabad and Delhi, visiting mosques near Ram Leela Maidan and the Golden Mosque. CCTV footage from the day of the explosion shows him parking near a mosque around 3 PM before heading towards the Red Fort.
A senior officer stated, “He stayed there for nearly three hours before heading towards the Red Fort.” A red Ford EcoSport registered in Umar’s name was also seized in Faridabad, with police discovering that the address on his documents was fake.
International Connections and Future Threats
During the investigation, it was revealed that the main suspect, Dr. Umar Nabi, and Dr. Muzammil Ganai had traveled to Turkey, where their handlers are suspected to be active. Officials indicated that these handlers were allegedly in contact with Nabi and other members of the so-called ‘doctor module.’
Passport records show that they traveled shortly after joining certain Telegram groups. Authorities reported that a handler had instructed the doctor module to expand across India, with targeted locations selected following their trip to Turkey.
The investigation uncovered plans to target crowded areas during Diwali, although they failed to execute the attacks. Investigators traced the radicalization of the ‘doctor module’ through two Telegram groups, one reportedly operated by a Jaish-e-Mohammed handler in Pakistan. Officials believe the group intended to carry out an attack similar to the 2008 Mumbai terror attacks.
Meanwhile, various agencies, including the special branch of Delhi Police, Jammu and Kashmir Police, and Uttar Pradesh ATS, remain on high alert, searching for others connected to the Faridabad module.
