The National Investigation Agency (NIA) has arrested Jasir Bilal Wani, an alleged co-conspirator linked to the Red Fort car blast that killed 13 individuals last week. Officials conducted the operation in Srinagar on Monday, following extensive inquiries into the incident.
Wani, a resident of Qazigund in Anantnag district of Jammu and Kashmir, has come under fire for his role in providing technical assistance to terror operations. He modified drones and made attempts to fabricate rockets leading up to the harrowing explosion. Known by the alias ‘Danish’, Wani’s involvement has drawn significant attention from investigators.
The NIA’s statement details Wani’s close collaboration with Umar un Nabi, the suicide bomber responsible for the attack. They delve into various angles to uncover further intricacies of the November 10 blast in Delhi. To date, multiple teams are pursuing leads across several states to identify those involved in this brazen plot.
Wani holds a degree in political science and revealed during interrogations that Umar had exerted intense pressure on him, radicalizing him to the point of becoming a suicide bomber. Their association began after Wani met members of the so-called ‘Doctor module’ at a mosque in Kulgam last October. It was at this mosque that his radicalization journey commenced, culminating in a move to a rented space near Al Falah University in Faridabad, Haryana.
While Wani was slated to function as an over-ground worker (OGW) for the proscribed Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM), Umar’s objective was to enlist him for a suicide attack. However, the plan unraveled in April of this year when Wani stepped back, citing economic struggles and ethical concerns regarding suicide in Islam.
This development adds a perilous layer to the ongoing investigation as agencies uncover a sophisticated interstate network linked to JeM. Reports indicate that Umar, a 28-year-old doctor from Pulwama, became a central figure in a broader conspiracy encompassing regions from Kashmir to Haryana and Uttar Pradesh.
Authorities suspect that Umar was orchestrating a VBIED (vehicle-borne improvised explosive device) attack, potentially timed for the December 6 anniversary of the Babri Masjid demolition. Sources suggest his strategy involved planting the explosive in a crowded area, either in Delhi or at a religious site, before disappearing.
Wani’s interrogations indicate that Umar’s radical ideology intensified following a 2021 trip to Turkey alongside Dr. Muzammil Ahmad Ganaie, another accused. Here, they reportedly met with JeM operatives, subsequently sparking a ramp up in their terror activities. Upon return, they began hoarding large quantities of chemicals, including 360 kg of ammonium nitrate and potassium nitrate, much of it stashed near the university grounds.
The thwarted December plot stemmed from investigative efforts by the Srinagar Police, resulting in Ganaie’s arrest and the retrieval of planned explosives. Authorities believe these developments spooked Umar, ultimately culminating in the premature Red Fort blast that claimed 13 lives.
The unraveling of this interstate jihadist network began on October 19, with the emergence of JeM posters in Bunpora and Nowgam in Srinagar. Police registered a case, analyzed CCTV footage, and arrested three local individuals — Arif Nisar Dar (aka Sahil), Yasir-ul-Ashraf, and Maqsood Ahmad Dar (aka Shahid) — who had prior records of stone-pelting.
Interrogations of these suspects led to the arrest of Maulvi Irfan Ahmad, a former paramedic-turned-Imam from Shopian. Ahmad allegedly supplied the extremist posters and played a crucial role in radicalizing doctors within this terror module.
