In a major breakthrough in the Red Fort area car bomb blast case, the National Investigation Agency (NIA) has arrested a Kashmir resident who had allegedly conspired with “suicide bomber” Dr Umar Un Nabi to carry out the terror attack, which claimed 13 lives.
Amir Rashid Ali, in whose name the car involved in the blast was registered, has been arrested from Delhi by the NIA, the federal probe agency said in a release.
The National Investigation Agency had launched a massive search operation after taking over the case from the Delhi Police.
Investigations by the probe agency had revealed that the accused, a resident of Samboora in Jammu and Kashmir’s Pampore, had conspired with the “suicide bomber”, Umar, to unleash the terror attack.
Amir had come to Delhi to allegedly facilitate the purchase of the car, which was eventually used as a “vehicle-borne Improvised Explosive Device (IED)” to trigger the blast, the NIA said.
This was the first time the probe agency has described Dr Umar UnNabi, who was behind the wheel when the car exploded near the Red Fort on November 10, as a “suicide bomber”. Also, NIA has for the first time used the term “vehicle-borne IED” for the car.
The NIA has forensically established the identity of the deceased driver of the “vehicle-borne IED” as Umar Un Nabi, a resident of Pulwama district of Jammu and Kashmir and an assistant professor in the general medicine department of Al Falah University in Faridabad.
The anti-terror agency has also seized another vehicle belonging to Umar. The vehicle is being examined for evidence in the case, in which NIA has so far examined 73 witnesses, including those injured in the blast.
Working in close coordination with Delhi Police, Jammu and Kashmir Police, Haryana Police, Uttar Pradesh Police and various sister agencies, the NIA is continuing its investigation across states.
It is pursuing multiple leads to unearth the larger conspiracy behind the “bombing” and identify others involved in the case, the release said.
‘Delhi blast driver received `20L from JeM handlers’
NEW DELHI, NOV 16 (IANS): The driver of the Hyundai i20 that exploded near Delhi’s Red Fort metro station on November 10 received Rs 20 lakh through illegal hawala channels, suspected to be from a Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM) handler, sources said.
The blast near Gate No. 1 of the metro station killed 12 people and injured nearly two dozen. DNA tests confirmed Dr Umar Mohammad was driving the car.
Security agencies are probing the financial links of Umar, Dr Muzammil and Dr Shaheen. Muzammil reportedly told officials that the trio received Rs 20 lakh, which later led to a dispute between Umar and Shaheen.
Police have detained several hawala dealers. About Rs 3 lakh was allegedly used to buy fertilisers.
The explosion came hours after 2,900 kg of ammonium nitrate was seized in Faridabad, where raids linked to the module recovered more explosive material.
Officials described the network as a “white-collar terror module” involving trained medical professionals. Special Cell and NIA teams have collected over 40 samples from the site. Investigation continues.