The National Investigation Agency (NIA) arrested Jasir Bilal Wani, an alleged co-conspirator of suicide bomber Umar un Nabi, following the deadly car blast near the Red Fort in Delhi. This explosion, which occurred on November 10, claimed the lives of 13 individuals.
Wani, a resident of Qazigund in Jammu and Kashmir’s Anantnag district, faces accusations of providing critical technical support for terrorist operations. This includes modifying drones and fabricating rockets in preparation for the horrific incident, as stated by the NIA. The agency apprehended him in Srinagar, where he is reportedly known by the alias Danish.
The NIA emphasized that Wani collaborated closely with Umar to orchestrate the attack. The investigation has expanded significantly as various teams pursue leads across multiple states to uncover the full scale of the conspiracy behind the blast.
According to investigative sources, Wani has described how Umar radicalized him intensively over several months, grooming him to become a suicide bomber. Their association began when they met at a mosque in Kulgam in October 2022. Following this, Wani moved to a rented space near Al Falah University in Faridabad, Haryana.
Initially, the broader network sought to utilize Wani as an over-ground worker (OGW) for the banned Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM). However, Umar pressured him to carry out a suicide attack. The plan faltered earlier this year when Wani withdrew due to financial constraints and religious beliefs against suicide.
Investigators now view Wani’s potential role as a suicide bomber as a crucial development, deepening the inquiry into an advanced interstate terror network tied to JeM.
Umar, a 28-year-old doctor from Pulwama, has emerged as a significant figure within this extensive network connecting Kashmir, Haryana, and Uttar Pradesh. Authorities are concerned that he was planning a vehicle-borne improvised explosive device (VBIED) attack, allegedly timed around the anniversary of the Babri Masjid demolition on December 6. Reports suggest he intended to detonate the bomb in a crowded public area in Delhi or at a religious site, with plans to escape afterward.
Wani’s interrogation revealed that Umar’s radicalization intensified after a trip to Turkiye in 2021 with co-accused Dr. Muzammil Ahmad Ganaie, during which they allegedly met with JeM operatives. Post-return, both resumed their academic responsibilities at Al Falah University while purchasing substantial quantities of chemicals. This included over 360 kg of ammonium nitrate, potassium nitrate, and sulphur, much of which was stored near their university.
The plot scheduled for December fell apart following an investigation by the Srinagar Police, which led to Ganaie’s apprehension and the exposure of explosive materials, potentially leading Umar to panic. This chain of events ultimately set the stage for the Red Fort blast, resulting in the tragic death toll.
The unraveling of this interstate network began on October 19 when JeM posters appeared in Bunpora and Nowgam areas near Srinagar. The local police promptly responded, registering a case and examining CCTV footage, which led to the arrests of three locals: Arif Nisar Dar (alias Sahil), Yasir-ul-Ashraf, and Maqsood Ahmad Dar (alias Shahid), all known for prior participation in stone-pelting incidents.
These arrests subsequently facilitated the capture of Maulvi Irfan Ahmad, a former paramedic turned Imam from Shopian. Ahmad allegedly provided the JeM posters and played a significant role in radicalizing the doctors involved in this terror module.
