NIA takes over Red Fort blast investigation; links to ‘white-collar’ terror module emerge

DR UMAR FROM PULWAMA SUSPECTED DRIVER

- NARESH BISWANI

The National Investigation Agency (NIA) has taken over the probe into the devastating car explosion near Delhi's Red Fort, which killed at least 12 people on Monday evening. Investigators have reportedly linked the incident to a recently exposed “white-collar” terror module spread across Jammu and Kashmir, Haryana, and Uttar Pradesh. Preliminary find ings point to Dr Umar Nabi, a Pulwama-based doctor, as the suspected driver of the Hyundai i20 car that detonated near the historic monument.

Authorities say Umar, who was allegedly connected to the Faridabad module of Jaish-eMohammed (JeM) and Ansar Ghazwat-ul-Hind, may have been killed in the explosion. A DNA sample taken from his mother in Pulwama is being matched with remains found at the scene. Prime Minister Narendra Modi, speaking at an event in Bhutan’s capital, Thimphu, said, “Our agencies will get to the bottom of this conspiracy. The perpetrators behind it will not be spared.”

Union Home Minister Amit Shah convened two high-level security review meetings and instructed the agencies to “hunt down every individual responsible for this act.” In a post on X, Shah wrote, “Everyone involved in this act will face the full wrath of our agencies.” He also directed the Forensic Science Laboratory to expedite the matching of samples collected from the blast site.

The explosion occurred around Gate No. 1 of the Red Fort Metro station when the car, reportedly moving slowly in traffic, blew up. The powerful blast gutted several vehicles nearby and shattered windows across the area. Security agencies believe the explosion may have been accidental rather than a planned suicide attack.