Police investigating the November 10 suicide car blast in Delhi have uncovered new details that point to a wide international terrorist network, a structured chain of operators and preparations for multiple coordinated attacks.
News agency ANI has shared this information quoting intelligence agencies. It is noteworthy that at least 15 people were killed and many others were injured in the car explosion near the Red Fort in the national capital. Dr. Umar Nabi, who was driving a car laden with explosives, carried out this attack.
Four other main accused, Dr. Muzammil Shakeel Ganai, resident of Pulwama (Jammu and Kashmir), Dr. Adeel Ahmed Rather, resident of Anantnag (Jammu and Kashmir), Dr. Shaheen Saeed, resident of Lucknow (Uttar Pradesh) and Mufti Irfan Ahmed Wagay, resident of Shopian (Jammu and Kashmir), have been taken into custody by the National Investigation Agency (NIA).
According to intelligence sources, the accused Muzammil, who was arrested after the recovery of more than 2500 kg of ammonium nitrate in Faridabad, had purchased an AK-47 rifle for more than Rs 5 lakh, which was later recovered from Adeel’s locker. This purchase of weapons is an important link. An intelligence agency source said this shows the level of preparation and funding behind this module.
Sources further said that each accused in the module was reporting to a different handler.
Muzammil’s handler was different, while blast accused Umar was reporting to someone else. The two lead handlers, Mansoor and Hashim, were working under a senior handler who was believed to be monitoring the entire activities of the module. An official said that these handlers were working at different levels.
Intelligence sources have confirmed that in 2022, Muzammil, Adeel and another accused had gone to Turkey on the instructions of a person named Muzaffar Ahmed Okasa, who is associated with Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP).
A source said they were to be sent to Afghanistan through a contact in Türkiye. But after making us wait for about a week, the handler backed out.
Investigators found that Okasa contacted Muzammil through a Telegram ID. After Muzammil asked about his handler, the conversation between them became more intense.
Intelligence officials said that Umar was learning bomb making techniques. She watched online videos, manuals, and open-source materials. He purchased chemical materials from Nuh and electronic equipment from Bhagirath Palace and NIT Market in Faridabad.
He also purchased a deep freezer to store chemicals and prepare explosive mixtures.
A source said freezers were used to freeze and process the compound.
Investigators have confirmed that there was a serious fight between Muzammil and Omar over money at the Al-Falah University campus in Faridabad, which was witnessed by several students. After the fight, Umar handed over his red EcoSport car, which already contained explosive material, to Muzammil.
According to intelligence agencies, this module was planning to store explosives at multiple locations and carry out simultaneous attacks.
All indicators point to a coordinated multi-location attack plan. A senior intelligence source told ANI that the recovered material and digital footprint strongly support this assessment.
Further investigation is underway to unearth the extensive network, financial channels and international operators involved in the conspiracy.
Meanwhile, the Delhi High Court on Friday refused to allow Red Fort terror attack co-accused Jasir Bilal Wani to meet his lawyer at the National Investigation Agency (NIA) headquarters. Wani is currently in NIA custody.