Red Fort blast: Panic and desperation drove Dr Umar after crackdown on ‘white-collar terror module’

A chilling picture has emerged in the aftermath of the Red Fort blast that killed at least 10 people on Monday evening. Investigators now believe that the prime suspect, Dr Umar Nabi, a Pulwama-based doctor working at Faridabad’s Al-Falah Hospital, may have triggered the explosion — either intentionally or by accident — in a moment of panic following a massive crackdown on a “white-collar terror module.”

According to officials, raids conducted by security agencies between November 8 and 10 in Faridabad uncovered nearly 3,000 kilograms of explosives, along with detonators, timers, and other bomb-making materials. The busted module is believed to have links to Pakistan-backed terror outfits Jaish-e-Mohammad (JeM) and Ansar Ghazwat-ul-Hind (AGuH). Investigators suggest the network was operated by foreign handlers based in Pakistan and the Gulf countries.

A senior officer confirmed that CCTV footage from the site of the explosion clearly showed Dr Umar driving the white Hyundai i20 that blew up near the Red Fort metro station. Forensic reports have also revealed that the explosives used in the blast matched those seized in the Faridabad raids.

The probe timeline traces back to October 19, when Jammu and Kashmir Police first discovered JeM posters in Srinagar and Nowgam. This led to a chain of arrests—beginning with Moulvi Irfan Ahmad and Zamir Ahmad, followed by another suspect, Adeel, from Saharanpur on November 5. Shortly after, weapons and explosives were recovered from a hospital in Anantnag. These leads eventually guided authorities to Dr Muzammil from Al-Falah Medical College and Hafeez Mohammad Ishtiyaq, the Imam of Al-Falah Mosque in Mewat, where over 2,563 kg of explosives were seized from his home and 358 kg more from an adjacent site.

As the noose tightened around the network, Dr Umar reportedly fled Faridabad, acting out of sheer panic and desperation. A senior officer noted, “Raids across NCR and Pulwama created intense pressure. The suspect acted hastily under this fear, leading to a premature explosion.”

Authorities believe the blast was caused by an incomplete bomb, limiting its potential devastation. Investigators suspect that Dr Umar may have been attempting to escape or dispose of the explosives when the blast occurred.
The National Investigation Agency (NIA) has now taken over the probe. Officials say that the crackdown likely averted a larger coordinated terror attack planned across India. The investigation continues to determine whether the Red Fort explosion was an accident or a deliberate act driven by fear of capture.