At least 15 people were killed, including the perpetrator and 20 others injured when a Hyundai i20 car disintegrated in a powerful explosion, sending shockwaves through the heart of Old Delhi. The explosion near the historic Red Fort instantly transformed the tragedy into a grave national crisis, casting a pall of profound unease across the entire nation.
The car bomb at the Red Fort
Forensic investigations and DNA testing confirmed the suicide bomber driving the vehicle was Dr. Umar Un Nabi, a medical professional from Pulwama, Jammu and Kashmir. The car was reportedly packed with different types of explosives. Officials believe the car, which had been parked nearby for several hours, was an improvised explosive device (IED). The deliberate targeting of a crowded street during peak rush hour suggested a cold, calculated attempt to maximise casualties and sow widespread panic. But as authorities dug deeper, the Delhi bombing revealed itself to be not an isolated incident, but rather the panicked fallout of a much wider plot that had been running for months.
The white-collar network of Faridabad
The trail of the bomber, Dr Umar, led investigators directly to the bustling city of Faridabad in Haryana, and a terrorist network linked to Al-Falah University, where Dr. Umar was an assistant professor. Just hours before the Delhi explosion, a coordinated intelligence operation had successfully dismantled this network, recovering a cache of nearly 3,000 kg of explosives, along with assault rifles and bomb-making equipment.
The perilous connection of India's doctors
The most unsettling revelation was the profile of the plotters- primarily comprised of highly educated professionals. Alongside Dr. Umar, key figures arrested included Dr. Muzammil Ganaie, Dr. Adeel Ahmad Rather, and Dr. Shaheen Sayeed, a woman doctor from Lucknow. These individuals, reportedly associated with the banned Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM) and Ansar Ghazwat-ul-Hind (AGuH), had allegedly exploited their medical credentials and academic positions to procure chemicals, secure hideouts, and recruit others.
Dr. Umar, the core operative, even ran a secret laboratory at his residence near Al-Falah University to test explosives and assemble IEDs, following bomb-making instructions received from Pakistani handlers.
Investigators also found that some suspects, including Dr. Umar and Dr. Muzammil, had travelled abroad, possibly to meet their handlers and finalise the execution of the attacks.
A Hamas-style blueprint and Kashmir's shadow
Initial investigations revealed that the terror cell had originally planned for "Hamas-style" drone and rocket bomb attacks in Delhi. This strategy, involving modified drones to deliver rocket-based explosives, is designed to maximise casualties and panic in crowded urban environments. The failure of this technical plot forced the module to revert to the car bomb IED, but the intention highlights a significant and alarming evolution in the terrorist threat faced by India.
National resolve and security response
The gravity of the threat has spurred the government into immediate and far-reaching action. The probe was swiftly transferred to the National Investigation Agency (NIA). The NIA has since made crucial arrests, including that of Amir, who allegedly helped procure the car, and Jasir Bilal Wani, an "active co- conspirator" who provided technical support for the drone modification attempts.
The Enforcement Directorate (ED) has also launched parallel investigations, conducting searches at Al- Falah University and related entities to trace financial irregularities and potential money laundering, aiming to cut off the terror network's funding arteries.