Authorities Crack Down on Terror Module Linked to Delhi Blast
In a significant development, law enforcement officials have apprehended a medical professor and a cardiology student from Jammu and Kashmir in Uttar Pradesh, as part of the investigation into the recent Delhi blast incident. This operation has unveiled an interstate white-collar terror network that was allegedly plotting further attacks across four cities, coinciding with the revocation of Al Falah University’s accreditation.
On Thursday, the government mandated a forensic audit of Al Falah University’s records, which have come under scrutiny following the blast. Additionally, the Enforcement Directorate and other financial investigative bodies have been instructed to trace the financial activities of the Haryana-based institution.
The explosion near the Red Fort on Monday night resulted in 13 fatalities and numerous injuries.
Later that day, the Association of Indian Universities (AIU) suspended the university’s membership, citing concerns over its operational integrity.
Previously, the National Assessment and Accreditation Council had issued a notice to Al Falah University for allegedly displaying fraudulent certifications on its website.
Dr. Farukh, an assistant professor at GS Medical College in Hapur, was taken into custody by Delhi Police on Wednesday night at the college premises. He is an alumnus of Al Falah University.
Mohammad Arif Mir, a 32-year-old first-year DM student at the Laxmipat Singhania Institute of Cardiology in Kanpur, was also detained by the Uttar Pradesh Anti-Terrorism Squad (ATS).
The ATS conducted a search of Arif’s rented residence in Ashok Nagar, where they confiscated his mobile phone and laptop for forensic analysis before transporting him to Delhi for further questioning.
Arif, originally from the Khagur Sadiwara region in Anantnag, Jammu and Kashmir, came under investigation following information provided by Dr. Shaheen Sayeed, a former GSVM professor who has been arrested in connection with the terror plot.
The Delhi Police have meticulously reconstructed Dr. Umar Nabi’s final hours leading up to the blast, utilizing footage from over 50 surveillance cameras.
Investigators have identified three suspects: Dr. Nabi, who drove the explosive-laden Hyundai i20, Dr. Muzammil Ahmad Ganaie, and Dr. Shaheen Shahid. They reportedly coordinated their activities using an encrypted messaging app, Threema, and created a Signal app group for operational planning.
A high-level meeting led by Union Home Minister Amit Shah was held to assess the investigation’s progress, lasting for one and a half hours.
Following the meeting, it was confirmed that a forensic audit of Al Falah University’s records would be conducted, and the ED was tasked with tracing the institution’s financial dealings.
The Congress party has called for Prime Minister Narendra Modi to convene an all-party meeting and advance the Winter Session of Parliament, set to begin on December 1, to discuss the incident.
Pawan Khera, head of the Congress media department, demanded accountability from Home Minister Shah, questioning his responsibility given the recent surge in major terror attacks.
According to police, the suspects had amassed over Rs 26 lakh in cash, which was entrusted to Dr. Umar for operational purposes.
This pooled money was allegedly used to acquire approximately 26 quintals of NPK fertilizer, valued at around Rs 3 lakh, from suppliers in Gurugram and nearby areas. This fertilizer, when mixed with other chemicals, is commonly utilized in the production of Improvised Explosive Devices (IEDs).
Reports indicate that around eight suspects were planning to execute blasts in four cities, intending to travel in pairs to each location.
Notebooks and diaries recovered from Dr. Muzammil and Dr. Umar’s rooms at Al Falah University contained coded entries and numerical sequences dated between November 8 and 12, indicating extensive planning for multiple attacks. They had also secured accommodations for storing explosives.
The frequent mention of the term ‘operation’ in these documents suggests a high level of organization and coordination. Investigators discovered references to approximately 25-30 individuals, primarily from Jammu and Kashmir, as well as from Faridabad and surrounding areas, shedding light on what officials are labeling a ‘white coat terror module.’
Dr. Umar, previously regarded as an academically successful individual, is believed to have become radicalized over the past two years, joining various extremist messaging groups on social media.
While one vehicle was used in the blast near the Red Fort, two others, a red Ford Ecosport and a Maruti Brezza, have been confiscated by security forces.
A senior police official reported that a large bag, suspected to contain explosives, was found in the back seat of Dr. Umar’s car as he traveled to Delhi prior to the explosion.
The timeline of his journey from Haryana to Delhi has been meticulously pieced together, revealing that he stopped for food at a roadside eatery along the Delhi-Mumbai expressway and spent the night in his vehicle before entering the capital the following morning.
Police sources indicate that Umar’s movements reflect careful planning and intentional efforts to evade detection.
He reportedly began his journey on the Delhi-Mumbai Expressway on Sunday, exiting at Firozpur Jhirka in Haryana’s Nuh district, where he stopped at a roadside dhaba and spent the night in his car.
He appeared to be cautious but not panicked, avoiding major towns in favor of highways and smaller eateries.
On Monday morning, he was again captured on CCTV along the expressway, driving slowly towards Delhi, stopping twice—once for tea and once to check his mobile phone.
Umar entered Delhi the next morning via the Badarpur border, retracing his earlier route from Faridabad.
His meticulous planning extended to every detail, including his entry and exit routes to avoid detection.
CCTV footage from the Badarpur toll plaza shows Umar driving a white Hyundai i20 and stopping at the toll gate around 8:02 am on November 10, the day of the explosion, where he briefly paused to pay the toll.
In a grim discovery, a severed hand was found on the roof of a shop behind Jain Mandir, several meters from the blast site, raising the death toll to 13 after another victim, Bilal, succumbed to injuries at LNJP Hospital.
DNA testing of samples collected from the blast site has confirmed that Dr. Nabi was indeed the driver of the car that detonated on Monday.
