The investigation into Red Fort blast that took place on November 10 has unearthed an elaborate terror plot spanning Kashmir, Haryana, and Uttar Pradesh, allegedly orchestrated by a “white-collar” Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM) module led by Dr Umar Nabi. According to sources, the Pulwama-based doctor had intended to stage a large-scale explosion coinciding with the disputed Babri Mosque’s demolition anniversary on December 6 — a date that Islamic terrorist groups have previously sought to exploit for symbolic impact.
Dr Umar Nabi, believed to have been driving the explosives-laden Hyundai i20 that detonated near the Red Fort, reportedly panicked after his associate, Dr Muzammil Shakeel, was apprehended by Faridabad Police. Shakeel, a faculty member at Al-Falah University, was caught with a cache of 360 kg of ammonium nitrate — part of nearly 2,900 kg of explosives seized across the city last week.
दिल्ली धमाके और 3000 किलो विस्फोटक पकड़े जाने को लेकर बड़ा खुलासा :
6 दिसंबर को भारत में बड़ा आतंकी हमला करने की थी तैयारी। अयोध्या भी था निशाना।— Ashok Shrivastav (@AshokShrivasta6) November 12, 2025
Sources say the arrest of Shakeel exposed the larger terror network and likely prompted Umar to abort his plan prematurely. “He realised the network had been compromised and triggered the blast before being caught,” an official said, adding that the bomb was incomplete, lacking shrapnel and secondary circuits.
Investigators have identified at least eight individuals connected to the module — seven from Kashmir and one from Uttar Pradesh. Apart from Shakeel, those detained include Arif Nisar Dar alias Sahil, Yasir-ul-Ashraf, Maqsood Ahmad Dar alias Shahid, Maulvi Irfan Ahmad, Zameer Ahmad Ahanger alias Mutlasha, Dr Adil, and Dr Shaheen Sayeed from Lucknow.
Officials describe Umar as a “brilliant but withdrawn” student who underwent a drastic ideological transformation after a 2021 trip to Turkey. During the visit, he and Shakeel allegedly came into contact with sympathisers of the banned JeM outfit. After returning to India, Umar began sourcing ammonium nitrate, potassium nitrate, and sulphur, reportedly using open-source bomb-making manuals to build a vehicle-borne improvised explosive device (VBIED).
Investigators believe Umar made a brief visit to Pulwama on October 26, telling family and friends he would be “unreachable for three months.” This, officials said, indicates he intended to go underground following the planned December attack.
The probe first picked up momentum in Srinagar, when police tracked down those responsible for JeM-supporting posters pasted around the city on October 19. CCTV footage led to the arrest of Dr Shakeel, which unravelled the broader interstate network of educated individuals radicalised into terrorism.
Authorities continue to trace the module’s funding channels and digital footprint, while forensic experts analyse remnants of the Red Fort explosion to reconstruct the intended VBIED design. Security agencies have also heightened vigilance across key installations in Delhi and northern India ahead of December 6.
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