New Delhi, Nov 12: The National Investigation Agency (NIA) and Jammu & Kashmir Police have arrested 15 individuals and detained three others in connection with a “Doctor Terror Module” allegedly linked to the Pakistan based terror outfit Jaish-e-Mohammad (JeM) and suspected to be behind the Red Fort blast that occurred on November 10 at 6:52 pm.
According to officials, the module involved several educated professionals, including doctors and university staff, who allegedly used Al-Falah University in Faridabad as their operational base. So far, 56 doctors have been questioned in the ongoing probe.
Investigators began tracking the network after a threatening poster targeting security forces surfaced in Srinagar’s Nowgam area on October 19. Early arrests included Maulvi Irfan Ahmed Wagh from Shopian and Zamir Ahmed from Wakura, Ganderbal, between October 20 and 27. The case widened with the capture of Dr. Adil from Saharanpur on November 5, followed by major arms seizures including an AK-47 rifle and ammunition from Anantnag Hospital (Nov 7) and more weapons from Al-Falah University (Nov 8).
Further raids led to the arrest of Dr. Muzammil and the recovery of additional arms and explosives. On November 10, security agencies seized 2,563 kg of explosives from the residence of Hafiz Mohammad Ishtiyaq, an Imam at Al-Falah Masjid, Faridabad. Another 358 kg of detonators and timers were recovered later, bringing the total to around 3,000 kg.
Sources said that Dr. Umar Mohammad, an assistant professor at Al-Falah University, went missing shortly before the Red Fort explosion. Investigators suspect that Umar himself may have been the suicide bomber, as a severed hand recovered from the blast site is undergoing DNA testing for confirmation.
The vehicle used a Hyundai i20 was registered to Dr. Shaheen Shahid, arrested from Lucknow, who reportedly admitted to stockpiling explosives for nearly two years and coordinating with Jaish handlers. CCTV footage places Umar driving the car before the explosion, which killed 12 people and injured several others.
Authorities are probing whether the blast was a planned suicide attack or an accidental detonation triggered during an escape attempt. Evidence also indicates the car was parked at Al-Falah Medical College in Dhauj, Faridabad, for 11 days before being driven to Delhi on November 10.
The investigation has now been officially handed over to the NIA (November 11), which will probe the module’s funding sources, recruitment strategy, and transnational terror links.