The National Investigation Agency (NIA) has arrested Jasir Bilal Wani, an alleged active co-conspirator of the suicide bomber Umar un Nabi, in connection with the recent car blast near the Red Fort in Delhi that claimed 13 lives. Officials confirmed the arrest on Monday.
Wani, a resident of Qazigund in Anantnag district of Jammu and Kashmir, allegedly provided crucial technical support for terror operations. This included modifying drones and fabricating rockets ahead of the deadly explosion, which occurred on November 10.
The NIA tracked and apprehended Wani in Srinagar, where he is also known by the alias Danish. Officials revealed that Wani worked closely with Umar to meticulously plan the attack. The agency is examining various angles to uncover the full conspiracy behind the Red Fort blast.
Multiple teams are actively pursuing leads and conducting searches across various states to identify all individuals connected to this terror plot. This case marks a troubling escalation in the activities of the terrorist outfit.
Wani, a political science graduate, informed his interrogators that he underwent intense radicalisation by Umar, who brainwashed him for months to prepare for the role of a suicide bomber. Their interaction began in October last year at a mosque in Kulgam, where Wani was later taken to a rented accommodation near Al Falah University in Faridabad, Haryana.
The broader module intended for Wani to function as an over-ground worker for the banned Jaish-e-Mohammed. However, Umar aimed to recruit him for a suicide attack. This plan deteriorated in April when Wani decided to back out, citing economic hardship and his belief against the act of suicide in Islam.
Authorities regard Wani’s previous intentions as part of a more extensive investigation into an interstate terror network affiliated with Jaish-e-Mohammed. The arrest has added a pivotal layer to understanding this sophisticated operation.
Reports indicate that Umar, a 28-year-old doctor from Pulwama, emerged as a central radicalised figure in a network spanning Kashmir, Haryana, and Uttar Pradesh. Officials suspect he was preparing for a significant vehicle-borne improvised explosive device (VBIED) attack, likely timed with the December 6 anniversary of the Babri Masjid demolition. His strategy reportedly involved planting a bomb at a crowded location in Delhi or near a religious site before disappearing.
Wani’s interrogation surfaced that Umar’s radicalisation intensified after a trip to Turkiye in 2021 with co-accused Dr. Muzammil Ahmad Ganaie. They allegedly engaged with Jaish-e-Mohammed operatives during this journey. On returning, both began purchasing substantial quantities of chemicals, including 360 kg of ammonium nitrate, potassium nitrate, and sulphur, much of which was stored near their university campus.
The December plot began to crumble when Srinagar Police launched an investigation, leading to Ganaie’s arrest and the subsequent recovery of explosives. This development may have spurred panic in Umar, ultimately culminating in the premature Red Fort blast that resulted in 13 fatalities.
The unraveling of the interstate network commenced on October 19 when Jaish-e-Mohammed posters surfaced on walls in Bunpora and Nowgam near Srinagar. Police registered a case and reviewed CCTV footage, which led to the arrests of three locals: Arif Nisar Dar (alias Sahil), Yasir-ul-Ashraf, and Maqsood Ahmad Dar (alias Shahid), all known for previous stone-pelting activities.
Further questioning of these suspects led to the detention of Maulvi Irfan Ahmad, a former paramedic and current Imam from Shopian, who allegedly supplied the posters and played a pivotal role in radicalising the involved doctors.
