New Delhi: The National Investigation Agency (NIA) has made a fresh breakthrough in the Red Fort blast investigation, arresting a key associate of alleged mastermind Umar Un Nabi. The suspect, Jasir Bilal Wani, also known as Danish, was detained in Srinagar and is believed to have handled the critical technical components of the plot.
Investigators say Wani, a resident of Qazigund in Anantnag, was deeply radicalised by Umar and worked as an active conspirator. He allegedly modified drones, tested improvised rockets and provided specialised technical support in the run-up to the November 10 car-bomb explosion, which killed 13 people and wounded 31 near the Red Fort metro station.
This is the NIA’s second arrest in the case. Earlier, the agency took into custody Aamit (Amir) Rashid, who was spotted with the Hyundai i20 that later exploded. Rashid had reportedly accompanied Umar to Faridabad on 29 October to purchase the vehicle used in the attack.
Meanwhile, Jammu & Kashmir Police have arrested nine more suspects, including three doctors — Dr Adeel Rather, Dr Shaheen Shahid and Muzammil Shakeel — described by investigators as members of a “white-collar terror module.” The wider network is believed to have links with Jaish-e-Mohammed and Ansar Ghazwat-ul-Hind and is suspected of planning multiple coordinated car-bomb attacks.
Forensic teams have confirmed that the Red Fort IED was built using ammonium nitrate mixed with TATP, a highly unstable, powerful explosive frequently used in major terror strikes.
NIA teams are now pursuing new leads across several states to map the full conspiracy. In a tragic development, Wani’s father Bilal Ahmed Wani died by suicide on Monday, shortly after learning of his son’s arrest.
The crackdown is intensifying as agencies close in on what they believe was a meticulously assembled terror module preparing for larger attacks.
