Delhi blast: More attacks were planned in 4 cities; Al Falah's university status revoked

Professor, cardiology student held in UP; DNA confirms Umar Nabi drove explosives-laden car

- NARESH BISWANI

A medical college professor and a cardiology student from Jammu and Kashmir were detained in Uttar Pradesh as investigators probing the deadly Red Fort blast uncovered a wider plot to carry out coordinated explosions in four cities, exposing what officials described as a "white-collar terror" network of doctors and professionals. The government on Thursday revoked Al Falah University’s varsity status and ordered a forensic audit into its finances amid growing evidence that several suspects, including key accused Dr Umar Nabi—whose DNA test confirmed he was driving the explosives-laden car that killed 13 people—had studied or worked at the Haryana-based institution now under the scanner of central agencies.

According to officials involved in the probe, the blast near Delhi's Red Fort on Monday night was only the first in a series of planned attacks by an educated terror module with interstate links stretching across Jammu and Kashmir, Haryana, Uttar Pradesh, and the National Capital Region. Preliminary findings indicate that the group, allegedly inspired and financed by Pakistan-based Jaish-e-Mohammed and Ansar Ghazwat-ul-Hind networks, had formed an organised cell of doctors, students, and professionals who pooled funds, procured explosive materials, and used encrypted platforms to coordinate their operations while maintaining the façade of normal academic and medical lives.