The National Investigation Agency (NIA) has arrested Jasir Bilal Wani, an alleged key co-conspirator linked to the Red Fort car blast, which claimed 13 lives on November 10. The agency took Wani into custody in Srinagar after he allegedly collaborated with suicide bomber Umar un Nabi.
Wani, a resident of Qazigund in Anantnag district of Jammu and Kashmir, provided technical support for terror operations. His role included modifying drones and trying to fabricate rockets ahead of the tragic explosion. According to the NIA, Wani operates under the alias Danish.
The investigation into the Red Fort car blast expands as the NIA aims to unravel the conspiracy behind this heinous act. Investigators are probing multiple leads to identify all individuals associated with the terror plot, underscoring concerns about an interstate network linked to Jaish-e-Mohammed.
In earlier interrogations, Wani revealed that Umar had radicalised him over several months, convincing him to become a suicide bomber. The two met at a mosque in Kulgam last year. Their ensuing discussions led Wani to a rented accommodation near Al Falah University in Faridabad, Haryana.
Wani’s initial task was to function as an over-ground worker (OGW) for Jaish-e-Mohammed. However, Umar pushed him towards conducting a suicide attack. Wani ultimately backed out in April, citing financial struggles and his belief that suicide violated Islamic teachings.
This new arrest sheds light on the ongoing probe into a sophisticated interstate terrorist network linked to Jaish-e-Mohammed. Law enforcement agencies are urgently seeking further connections and possible future threats.
Umar, a 28-year-old from Pulwama, emerged as a significant figure within this network, which spans across Kashmir, Haryana, and Uttar Pradesh. Authorities believe he was planning a powerful VBIED (vehicle-borne improvised explosive device) attack, which could coincide with the December 6 anniversary of the Babri Masjid demolition.
According to officials, Umar aimed to detonate the bomb either at a bustling location in Delhi or at a crowded religious site—and then disappear into the night.
Wani’s interrogation indicates that Umar’s radicalisation intensified following a 2021 trip to Turkiye with fellow accused Dr. Muzammil Ahmad Ganaie. Upon their return, the two, who are both associated with Al Falah University, began acquiring large amounts of chemicals, including 360 kg of ammonium nitrate and other explosive materials.
The December plot’s collapse began with a police investigation that led to Ganaie’s arrest and the recovery of explosives. This prompted panic within Umar’s ranks and culminated in the Red Fort blast, which tragically took 13 lives.
The unraveling of this interstate terror network started on October 19, following the appearance of Jaish-e-Mohammed posters in Bunpora and Nowgam areas near Srinagar. Police response, including a review of CCTV footage, resulted in the arrest of three locals who had been involved in past stone-pelting incidents.
The interrogation of these individuals led to the arrest of a former paramedic-turned-Imam, Maulvi Irfan Ahmad, from Shopian. Authorities allege that he played a crucial role in disseminating the posters and radicalising the doctors involved in the terror plans.
The NIA continues its extensive inquiry, focusing on dismantling the operational capabilities of Jaish-e-Mohammed in India.
