Who Was Dr. Umar Nabi, the Terrorist and Suicide Bomber Behind the Red Fort Blast in Delhi?

As investigators dig deeper into the deadly explosion near Delhi's Red Fort, officials now believe that Dr Umar U Nabi, a medical professional turned extremist, was the suicide bomber who triggered the blast that killed at least 12 people on Monday evening.

A Doctor's Descent into Radicalization

The first image of Dr Umar surfaced early Tuesday, showing the man suspected to have driven the white Hyundai i20 that exploded near the Red Fort. According to investigators, Dr Umar U Nabi, son of Gh Nabi Bhat, hailed from Pulwama in Jammu and Kashmir and worked as a doctor at Al-Falah Medical College in Faridabad. His mother, Shamima Banoo, belongs to Koil village in Pulwama.

Born on February 24, 1989, Dr Umar had once been regarded as a promising student. He completed his MD in Medicine from Government Medical College, Srinagar, before joining GMC Anantnag as a senior resident. Later, he shifted to Delhi, where he served as an Assistant Professor at Al-Falah Medical College until his alleged involvement in the blast.

Sources said his father, a government school teacher who has been mentally unwell, left his job over a decade ago. The family includes two brothers and a sister, both of whom-along with his mother-have been detained for questioning.

The "Faridabad Module" and the Telegram Trail

Investigators suspect Dr Umar was part of a network of medical professionals radicalised online through encrypted Telegram channels. The group, reportedly led by Dr Adeel Ahmad Rather, is being referred to by officials as the "Faridabad module."

According to a senior officer, "These individuals appeared well-educated and unsuspecting, but they were deeply indoctrinated through digital platforms. Their professional status helped them operate quietly under the radar."

The Night of the Explosion

At 6:52 pm on Monday, a white Hyundai i20 stopped at a traffic signal on Subhas Marg, a busy stretch near the Red Fort. Within seconds, the car exploded, causing widespread devastation. Several nearby vehicles caught fire, and people were seen thrown by the impact. Videos from the site showed the aftermath, with mangled bodies and shattered glass scattered across the street.

The explosion occurred just hours after Haryana and Jammu & Kashmir Police had arrested two of Umar's close aides, Dr Adeel Ahmad Rather and Dr Mujammil Shakil, in connection with a terror module. The operation also led to the seizure of 2,900 kg of explosives and a cache of weapons, including assault rifles and pistols. Officials believe the arrests may have triggered Dr Umar to carry out the suicide attack.

DNA Confirmation and Family Questioning

On Tuesday, police took Umar's mother, Shamima Banoo, for DNA testing in Pulwama to confirm the identity of the bomber. "We have taken the mother of the suspect to collect DNA samples in order to match with the parts found at the scene of the blast," an official told PTI.

Authorities are now working to trace the broader network linked to Dr Umar, with a focus on identifying others radicalised through the same online channels that transformed a once-promising doctor into a suicide bomber.