A major twist has emerged in the investigation into Monday’s deadly blast near Delhi’s Red Fort that killed 13 people and injured more than 20. Police have traced the Hyundai i20 car involved in the explosion to a Kashmir-based doctor, identified as Dr Umar-un-Nabi from Pulwama.
Officials believe Dr Umar was behind the wheel of the car that exploded near Gate No. 1 of the Red Fort Metro Station around 6:52 pm. His role is now being probed as part of a wider investigation linking the blast to a recently busted terror module in Faridabad.
J&K Police Detains Six, Including Umar’s Family Members
Soon after the explosion, the Jammu and Kashmir Police launched overnight raids in Pulwama. Six people were detained, including three of Umar’s family members. Sources said Dr Umar had been in contact with two other Kashmiri doctors — both arrested earlier in connection with the Faridabad terror module, where 2,900 kg of explosives were recovered.
A senior Delhi Police official told reporters, “A person linked to the Faridabad module is suspected to have been travelling in the i20 car, though the identity of the deceased will only be confirmed after the DNA test.”
Police sources added that Umar had gone missing soon after the Faridabad module was busted. Investigators believe his disappearance and the Red Fort blast are connected.
Car Ownership Trail Uncovers Faridabad Connection
The trail of the Hyundai i20 car became the turning point in the case. Investigators found that the vehicle was originally registered in Haryana in the name of Salman, a Gurugram resident. Salman later sold the car to Devender, a man from Delhi’s Okhla area.
According to an investigating officer, “The car (Hyundai i20) was registered in the name of a man named Salman, who revealed he sold it to a man named Devender. Devender was picked up, and he said he sold it to a man named Taariq. While we were looking for Taariq, we found that the car was last with Umar.”
This ownership chain helped police establish a clear link between the Red Fort blast and the Faridabad explosives case, which involved multiple suspects from Pulwama.
Umar and Faridabad Doctor Belonged to the Same Village
Police also confirmed that Umar and another arrested doctor, Dr Muzammil, were from the same village in south Kashmir’s Pulwama. Dr Muzammil was arrested last week after a huge cache of explosives and ammunition was found in his rented accommodation in Faridabad.
Forensic teams are now examining samples collected from the explosion site. Delhi Police said several human body parts were found inside the car, further indicating that Umar might have been driving it when the blast occurred.
Officials are now investigating whether the explosion was accidental or part of a larger terror plot planned by the same network involved in the Faridabad module.
