Delhi Bomber's Video Recovered From Phone Given to Brother in Pulwama Before Red Fort Attack

The video evidence from the Delhi suicide bomber was recovered from a water-damaged phone that he had given to his brother days before the attack.

NDTV sources have confirmed that Dr. Umar Mohammad, also known as Umar-un-Nabi, visited his family home in Pulwama approximately one week prior to the November 10 bombing near Delhi's Red Fort that claimed 13 lives.

During this visit, Nabi handed one of his two mobile phones to his brother before returning to Faridabad, where he worked as an assistant professor in General Medicine at Al Falah University.

The brother became alarmed after learning about a series of arrests involving Nabi's university colleagues: Dr. Adeel Ahmed Rather was detained on November 7 for displaying terror-linked posters in Srinagar, Dr. Muzammil Shakeel was arrested on November 9 in connection with explosives found in Faridabad, and Dr. Shaheen Saeed was apprehended shortly after.

"He was aware these were his brother's colleagues and friends, and mentioned hearing that police were searching for Nabi as well," according to an investigative source.

In panic, Nabi's brother disposed of the phone in a pond near their Pulwama residence. When authorities attempted to locate Nabi's two known phones, they discovered both were powered off, with their last tracked locations being Delhi and Pulwama respectively.

Investigators eventually reached the family home in Pulwama and, after thorough questioning, the brother revealed he had received a phone from Nabi and subsequently discarded it in a nearby pond.

The phone was recovered after the Delhi bombing had already occurred, while the questioning was still in progress.

"The device had water damage and motherboard issues. We were only able to retrieve Nabi's video several days later," explained one source.

The recovered video became public on Tuesday, showing Nabi attempting to justify suicide bombings as "martyrdom operations" despite Islam's prohibition against taking one's own life.

"One commonly misunderstood concept is what has been labeled as suicide bombing. It is a martyrdom operation... recognized in Islam. There are multiple contradictions and arguments raised against this practice," Nabi states in the recording.

He continues by claiming no one can predict their time or place of death, and what is destined will happen, ominously adding, "Don't fear death."

Psychologist Namrata Ohri analyzed the video for NDTV, noting that while Nabi avoided direct eye contact with the camera, he appeared remarkably confident and convinced about his message.

"He seems to be recalling his thoughts, exhibiting confidence in what he had prepared. He's attempting to persuade viewers that his actions—past or planned—are completely justified, algorithmic, and programmed. His thought process shows confidence, and he expresses himself with natural clarity," she observed.

Earlier sources indicated that Nabi recorded the video in room 13 of building 17 at Al Falah University. This same location allegedly served as the planning center for the radicalised doctors, who investigators believe have connections to Pakistan-based Jaish-e-Mohammed. Their operation reportedly involved 2,900 kg of explosives found in accommodations rented under Dr. Muzammil Shakeel's name.

"This suggests the video predates the bombing by at least a week, possibly longer. It remains unclear whether Nabi was discussing a suicide attack he personally intended to execute or addressing others whom his network was attempting to radicalise," an official stated.