NIA Unravels Red Fort Blast Mystery: Tracing Umar's Final Hours
Image Source: Internet
The National Investigation Agency (NIA) has launched a comprehensive probe into the Red Fort blast, marking its first official step since taking over the investigation from the Delhi Police. On Wednesday, NIA teams visited the blast site, combed through debris, and analyzed CCTV footage to reconstruct the events leading up to the explosion on Monday. The agency has coordinated with police forces in Jammu and Kashmir, Haryana, and Uttar Pradesh to gather intelligence on the suspected Jaish-e-Mohammad (JeM) module behind the blast. NIA will soon take custody of several suspects detained by state police forces. In Faridabad, NIA officers visited Al-Falah Medical College and Hospital, where the suspected bomber, Dr. Umar un-Nabi, worked. Investigators questioned staff and colleagues about Umar and his associates, Dr. Muzammil Ganaie and Dr. Adeel Ahmad Rather, to trace their movements and interactions in recent years. NIA investigators, working closely with the Intelligence Bureau and other agencies, are reconstructing Umar's final journey in the white Hyundai i20 from Faridabad to Delhi. They are analyzing whether he met, contacted, or was assisted by anyone on the route. Umar entered Delhi through the Badarpur border around 8 am on Monday, spending nearly 10 hours in the Capital before the blast occurred at 6:52 pm outside Red Fort's Gate No. 1. Investigators are trying to decode why Umar parked the car in the Sunheri Masjid parking lot for over three hours before driving it to the blast site. Hundreds of CCTV camera footage from Badarpur to Old Delhi are being analyzed day and night. Preliminary investigations suggest that Umar acted in panic and desperation after a massive crackdown on his network in Faridabad led to the recovery of nearly 2,900 kilograms of ammonium nitrate, detonators, timers, and assault rifles. The explosion was caused by a premature and underdeveloped bomb, limiting its impact. NIA is also analyzing recent JeM-related arrests and detentions across Jammu and Kashmir and the hinterland to determine whether Umar, Adeel, Muzammil, or their associates were involved in earlier terror plots or propaganda. The agency is in touch with foreign agencies to know if they heard any online chatter on JeM plans recently. The Forensic Science Laboratory (FSL) will release a final report on the type of explosive used, which may take a few days. Meanwhile, the NIA continues to unravel the mystery behind the Red Fort blast, tracing Umar's final hours and piecing together the events that led to the tragedy.
