Delhi Car Blast: Terrorist Umar Nabi's Pulwama House Demolished Over Red Fort Bombing

The investigation into the deadly i20 explosion near the Red Fort in Delhi has taken a dramatic turn, with security forces pulling down the Pulwama home of Dr Umar Nabi, the man identified as the driver of the car involved in the blast on November 10.

Overnight Action in Pulwama

PTI reported that the demolition was executed during the intervening night of Thursday and Friday. The explosion earlier in the week had resulted in 13 deaths and left several more injured. The force of the blast shattered nearby vehicles, and disturbing visuals from the location displayed mangled remains and debris scattered across the road.

Authorities later verified that Umar had been inside the Hyundai i20 when it detonated. DNA lifted from the blast site matched samples taken from his mother, confirming his presence.

Radicalisation Trail and Movement Across Delhi

Investigators have been piecing together Umar's background, noting that he had once been regarded as an academically strong professional within his circle. Over the past two years, he allegedly underwent a shift in ideology and joined multiple extremist messaging groups on social platforms.

His movements on the day of the blast were also captured repeatedly on CCTV across several parts of Delhi. A crucial clip from the Sunehri Masjid parking zone near the Red Fort showed him entering at 3.19 pm and exiting at 6.28 pm. The blast took place barely 24 minutes after he left the area.

A Link in a Larger Covert Network

Officials have identified Umar as a significant player within a "white collar" terror module that was uncovered earlier this week. He was a resident of Koil village in Pulwama and was believed to have connections with the larger network.

Just hours before the explosion, law enforcement had arrested eight individuals including three doctors while dismantling a module linked to proscribed outfits such as Jaish-e-Mohammed and Ansar Ghazwat-ul-Hind. The crackdown extended across Jammu and Kashmir, Haryana and Uttar Pradesh. Nearly 3,000 kilograms of ammonium nitrate, potassium chlorate and sulphur were seized during the operation.