Delhi Blast Near Red Fort: How Three Kashmiri Doctors Created a "White Collar Terror Ecosystem"

Doctors Adeel Ahmad Rather, Muzammil Shakeel and Umar Mohammed are under investigation in connection with the Delhi blast incident

New Delhi:

Three weeks prior to the explosion near Delhi's historic Red Fort, posters supporting the terrorist organization Jaish-e-Mohammad appeared throughout various areas of Srinagar. The Jammu and Kashmir police subsequently initiated an investigation that would lead them to Uttar Pradesh, Haryana, and the national capital. This investigation would ultimately unveil a significant transformation in terrorist recruitment strategies, which Jammu and Kashmir police have termed a "white collar terror ecosystem".

Three Kashmiri doctors, Adeel Ahmad Rather, Muzammil Shakeel, and Umar Mohammed, are currently under investigation regarding yesterday evening's explosion that resulted in nine fatalities and over 20 injuries. The apprehension of Rather and Shakeel in Uttar Pradesh's Saharanpur and Haryana's Faridabad, respectively, led to the discovery of substantial quantities of bomb-making materials.

Security agencies report that approximately 2,900 kg of bomb-making material, suspected to be ammonium nitrate, was recovered from two rooms in Faridabad. Initial findings suggest this same chemical compound was utilized in the Red Fort explosion.

At approximately 6:52 pm yesterday, a white Hyundai i20 was stopped at a traffic signal near Red Fort on Netaji Subhash Marg. Red Fort stands on one side of this location, with Chandni Chowk on the opposite side. Suddenly, a powerful explosion tore through the car and several surrounding vehicles. Witnesses described seeing a "huge fireball," and approximately 15 fire engines spent half an hour controlling the resulting blaze.

The explosion triggered immediate concern throughout India's security establishment, and within 12 hours, multiple security agencies had collaboratively reconstructed the plot behind this alarming incident.

The Vehicle That Passed Through Multiple Owners

Following the explosion, authorities traced the ownership history of the i20 car with registration number HR26CE7674. Records showed the vehicle was registered to an individual named Salman. Upon questioning, Salman revealed he had sold the car to someone named Devender in March. The vehicle subsequently changed ownership multiple times, passing to Aamir, then to Tariq, and finally to Dr. Umar Mohammad.

Umar, who maintained close ties with Adeel, had been arrested in connection with the poster case. Investigators now believe he was driving the car when the explosion occurred. CCTV footage captured prior to the explosion shows a partial view of Umar's face. Authorities are planning to conduct DNA testing to definitively confirm the driver's identity.

The Terror Investigation and a Potential Panic Response

While government officials have not explicitly classified this as a 'terror attack,' police have registered the case under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act, legislation typically employed in terrorism cases. Union Home Minister Amit Shah stated last night that security agencies are investigating all possible angles. Reports indicate that the National Investigation Agency, India's anti-terrorism authority, may assume control of the investigation.

Investigators are currently exploring whether this might have been a suicide attack carried out by Umar in a state of panic. Security agencies had already located Adeel and Muzammil, seizing 2,900 kg of bomb-making materials and sophisticated weaponry including assault rifles and pistols.

Authorities are considering the possibility that Umar, distressed by his associates' arrests and the substantial confiscation of bomb-making materials, may have decided to execute a desperate suicide attack.

The New Face of Terrorism?

Umar, Adeel, and Muzammil are all medical professionals. Adeel had previously worked at the Government Medical College in Anantnag before relocating to Saharanpur to work at a private medical facility. Muzammil had been employed as a senior resident at Al Falah School of Medical Sciences & Research Centre for three years. Muzammil's colleague, Dr. Shaheen Shahid from Lucknow, was also arrested after weapons were discovered in her vehicle. Now, Dr. Umar Mohammad is believed to have executed the suspected suicide attack.

According to security agencies, the involvement of highly educated professionals such as doctors represents a fundamental shift in terrorist recruitment strategies. Jammu and Kashmir police described this "white collar" terror network as utilizing encrypted communication channels for indoctrination, coordination, financial transactions, and logistics operations. "Funds were raised through professional and academic networks, disguised as social or charitable causes. The accused were involved in identifying individuals for radicalization and recruitment into terrorist ranks, as well as fundraising, arranging logistics, and procuring weapons, ammunition, and materials for improvised explosive devices," they reported.