Red Fort Blast: Was Dr. Umar in the Car? Investigators Trace Pulwama and Faridabad Terror Module Links

In a terrifying incident near Gate No. 1 of the Red Fort Metro Station, a Hyundai i20 packed with explosives detonated on Monday evening, sending a fireball into the sky around 6:52 pm and plunging the area into chaos. Top intelligence sources have confirmed that the car was deliberately rigged for an attack, bearing the hallmarks of a fidayeen-style suicide strike commonly associated with militant groups operating out of Jammu and Kashmir.

Pulwama Connection Emerges

Investigators have traced the purchase of the vehicle to Tariq, a resident of Pulwama, who is currently in custody for questioning. Early leads suggest Tariq may have acted as a conduit between handlers in Kashmir and a Faridabad-based terror module suspected of planning the bombing.

Faridabad Terror Module Under Scrutiny

Multiple intelligence inputs indicate a Faridabad module, under surveillance for months for alleged arms smuggling and terror financing across northern India, may have been behind the attack. The module is believed to have supplied both the car and the explosives used in the blast.

Dr. Umar Mohammad: Key Suspect

Investigators are now focusing on Dr. Umar Mohammad, a known member of the Faridabad module. Sources suggest he may have been inside the Hyundai i20 when it exploded, potentially attempting a suicide mission to avoid capture. A DNA test will be conducted on the charred body recovered from the vehicle to confirm whether it was Dr. Umar.

Officials say Dr. Umar had been on the run for months, going underground after the arrest of his associate, Dr. Muzammil Shakeel, from whom police recently seized 2,900 kg of explosives. Shakeel's arrest may have triggered panic within the network, prompting Dr. Umar to execute the Red Fort bombing as a last-ditch effort.

Car Ownership Trail Reveals a Tangled Web

The Hyundai i20's ownership history has become a central part of the investigation. The vehicle was initially registered to Mohammad Salman, who sold it to Nadeem, then to Royal Car Zone, a Faridabad dealership, before ending up with Tariq and reportedly with Dr. Umar Mohammad.

Investigators believe this complex chain of transactions was engineered to obscure the final owner, making the bombing appear random. However, after Shakeel's network was busted, links between Tariq and the Faridabad terror module began to unravel.

Part of a Larger Plot?

The blast comes hours after Delhi Police and central agencies dismantled a major interstate terror module, seizing over 2,900 kg of ammonium nitrate - enough to make hundreds of improvised explosive devices (IEDs). A senior officer told Oneindia,"Every lead - the car, the explosives, the people - is pointing back to the same network. We may just be seeing the first layer of a much larger plot."

Faridabad Raid and Arrests

Earlier on Monday, Haryana Police, in coordination with Jammu and Kashmir counterparts, arrested Dr. Muzammil Ganaie (alias Musaib) from Faridabad's Dhauj area. Authorities recovered a huge cache of explosives (suspected ammonium nitrate), arms, and ammunition from his rented accommodation.

Dr. Ganaie, a native of Koil, Pulwama, worked as a doctor at Al Falah University, a UGC-recognized private institute. A total of eight people were arrested and 2,900 kg of explosives seized. The terror module reportedly involves Jaish-e-Mohammed and Ansar Ghazwat-ul-Hind, with networks spanning Kashmir, Haryana, and Uttar Pradesh.

Among those arrested were Dr. Ganaie in Faridabad and Dr. Shaheen, a female doctor from Lucknow, who was flown to Srinagar for custodial interrogation. Authorities also recovered an AK-47 rifle from her car.

Anti-Terror Raids Continue Across Kashmir

Police claimed to have continued massive preventive crackdowns to dismantle terror support networks across Kashmir. In Baramulla alone, raids were conducted at 23 locations. Over the past few days, authorities have intensified search operations and raids throughout the region to prevent further attacks.