A doctor described by his own family as “quiet and studious,” 35-year-old Umar un-Nabi from Jammu and Kashmir, has emerged as the key suspect in the high-intensity car explosion near the Red Fort. The blast on Monday left the national capital stunned, killing at least 10 people and injuring several others.
Dr. Umar un-Nabi is believed to be the individual driving the Hyundai i20 car that exploded near the Lal Quila metro station. Crucially, he is allegedly tied to the massive raids conducted in Faridabad just days before the blast, which resulted in the recovery of nearly 3,000 kg of ammonium nitrate and uncovered a dangerous “white-collar terror network” leading to the arrest of seven people, including two doctors.
Key Revelations on Umar un-Nabi and the Terror Network
The deepening probe into the Red Fort explosion has revealed significant links and motives behind the attack:
Direct Ties to the Faridabad Terror Module
Umar had direct connections to the two doctors arrested in the terror module busted in Faridabad:
- Dr. Adeel Ahmed Rather: Umar knew Adeel from Government Medical College (GMC), Anantnag, where they both served as senior resident doctors. Adeel was allegedly using the Faridabad site to store explosives and maintained ties with both Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM) and its local offshoot, Ansar Ghazwat-ul-Hind (AGuH).
- Dr. Muzammil Shakeel Ganaie: Muzammil and Umar hailed from the same village in Pulwama and had worked together at the Al-Falah Medical College and Hospital in Faridabad.
According to a Delhi Police Special Cell officer, the three doctors reportedly operated a terror logistics network stretching from Pulwama to the National Capital Region (NCR), all linked to the JeM.
‘Panic and Desperation’ Drove the Attack
Investigators suspect that Umar un-Nabi “panicked” following the extensive security agency raids in Faridabad. Fearing that the circle was closing in on him—a fear compounded by the fact that he had been using five mobile numbers, all switched off since October 30, and had stopped attending his medical duties—he acted hastily.
- Relocation/Destruction of Evidence: Cops believe Umar decided to relocate or destroy evidence, driving into Delhi with ammonium nitrate fuel oil and a detonator.
- ‘Premature’ Bomb: The officer suggested that the bomb used in the Red Fort explosion was “premature and not fully developed” due to Umar acting under panic and desperation, which ultimately limited the impact of the explosion.
- Consignment Link: Police have established that the explosives used in the Red Fort bomb originated from the same consignment that was recovered by agencies during the Faridabad raids.
CCTV Footage Confirms Presence
Investigators confirmed that Umar was the one driving the Hyundai i20 car that exploded. Crucially, he was also seen driving the same car in a separate CCTV footage captured on October 29 in Faridabad’s Sector 37.
“We have information that he and Dr. Muzammil had known each other for years and were planning this (the Red Fort blast) at the university,” the officer added.