‘Umar, Muzammil bought blast materials in batches’

{ TRAIL OF EXPLOSIVES } WHAT INVESTIGATORS FOUND

- Prawesh Lama, Jignasa Sinha and Leena Dhankhar

Investigators tracking the origins of the explosives used in Monday's deadly blast near Delhi's Red Fort have traced the procurement network to Basai Meo village in Haryana’s Nuh district and adjoining areas of Faridabad, Gurugram, and Saharanpur.

The findings, officials said, reveal a complex chain of fertilizer and ammonium nitrate purchases allegedly orchestrated by Dr Umar Un Nabi and his associates from the Faridabad module over several months.

People familiar with the investigation said Umar and another suspect had posed as farmhouse owners while approaching fertilizer shops in Nuh, where they began purchasing NPK fertilizers in small quantities over the last three-four months. Senior officers said the module collectively raised ₹20 lakh to buy more than 26 quintals of NPK fertilizer and over 1,000kg of ammonium nitrate - materials powerful enough to make multiple bombs.

A senior Delhi Police officer said that the network was “actively discussing ways to procure ammonium nitrate and NPK in bulk quantities.” “They spent over ₹20 lakh, with each member contributing. The group also bought rifles and cartridges from Srinagar with help from their handlers, including one codenamed ‘Ukasha’,” the officer said.