Terror Doctors: NIA Uncovers Hospital Weapon Storage Plot Mirroring Hamas Tactics

An AK-47 was recovered from the locker of a 'terror doctor' in J&K.

New Delhi:

NIA sources revealed to NDTV on Friday that terrorists in India disguised as medical professionals may be utilizing hospital staff lockers to store weapons and explosives, mimicking Hamas tactics in Gaza. This raises concerning questions about potential advisory or operational connections between these groups.

The National Investigation Agency is currently leading investigations into the November 10 car bombing near Delhi's Red Fort that claimed 15 lives. Notably, at least three suspects linked to this attack had established cover identities as medical practitioners.

Mohammed Shakeel and Umar Mohammad were employed at Al-Falah Hospital in Faridabad, Haryana, while Adil Ahmad Rather worked at the Government Medical College in Anantnag, Jammu and Kashmir. A fourth suspect, Shaheen Saeed, is also connected to the case.

During a raid at the Government Medical College, J&K Police discovered an assault rifle with ammunition in Rather's assigned locker. Additional weaponry was found in a vehicle owned by Saeed.

This evidence, combined with intelligence gathered from interrogations, has alerted the NIA to a broader plot. Terrorists reportedly planned to transform hospitals across Anantnag, Baramulla, and Budgam districts into weapons storage facilities, exploiting the general perception that medical institutions are unlikely terrorism targets.

Sources indicate this strategy bears unsettling similarities to tactics employed in Gaza, where Israeli forces claimed in June to have discovered Hamas-constructed tunnel networks beneath Al-Shifa Hospital. These tunnels allegedly concealed weapons and functioned as command centers.

The 10-member 'terror doctor' module behind the Red Fort bombing, which intelligence agencies have connected to Pakistan-based Jaish-e-Mohammed, apparently intended similar operations. If confirmed, this suggests an expanded operational link between Pakistani terror organizations and the Red Fort bombers, potentially extending to Hamas connections.

This intelligence reportedly emerged during Rather's interrogation. He was initially apprehended in Uttar Pradesh's Saharanpur after being identified as responsible for displaying pro-Jaish posters in Nowgam, J&K. Information from his questioning proved crucial in exposing the Al-Falah Hospital terror network.

The Al-Falah Hospital has become central to this investigation. On Thursday, sources indicated that over 200 hospital employees are under scrutiny for potential connections to the Red Fort attack or other terrorist activities. Further complicating matters, at least 10 suspects reportedly disappeared on Wednesday, with authorities actively searching for them after their mobile phones were deactivated.

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