The high-intensity explosion near Delhi’s Red Fort on Monday evening, which claimed 13 lives and injured several others, has now been linked to a network of three doctors with roots in Jammu and Kashmir. Investigators believe the blast, which sent shockwaves across the historic area and caused chaos during peak traffic, was executed using a white Hyundai i20 and a massive cache of explosives transported from Faridabad, Haryana.

Central to the probe is Dr Umar Un Nabi, a resident of Pulwama, who is suspected to have transported explosive material to Delhi in the ill-fated car. Investigators have traced his connection to the seizure of nearly 2,900 kilograms of explosive and inflammable material recovered from Faridabad’s Dhauj and Fatehpur Taga villages, an operation that has revealed a deeply entrenched terror module operating under the guise of medical professionals.

Tracing the Explosive Trail

Preliminary investigations suggest that Dr Nabi, employed at Al-Falah Medical College in Faridabad for the past three years, used his rented room as a storage point for ammonium nitrate and other high-grade explosives. Police sources confirmed that he was likely behind the wheel of the Hyundai i20 when it slowed near a red light close to Sunehri Masjid, before exploding around 6:52 pm, engulfing nearby vehicles and causing casualties.

Nabi’s involvement appears to be coordinated with two other doctors from Jammu and Kashmir, recently arrested in connection with a massive explosives seizure in Faridabad. Among them is Adeel Ahmad Rather, a former senior resident at Government Medical College, Anantnag, who was apprehended last week, and Dr Muzammil Shakil, a fourth-year medical student from Pulwama. Investigators are scrutinizing CCTV footage across Delhi and Faridabad to track the movements of Nabi and Shakil, including whether they travelled together to Delhi to plant the explosives.

Faridabad Police, acting on inputs provided by Rather during interrogation, conducted raids across multiple locations, uncovering a network that authorities describe as “deep and well-organized.” “The network runs deep and is under active investigation. We are verifying how long Dr Nabi had been employed in Faridabad and the extent of his involvement with the others,” said Varun Dahiya, Faridabad’s assistant police commissioner (crime).

Rented Rooms and the Explosives Cache

Investigators have revealed that Shakil had rented two accommodations in Dhauj for ₹1,200 and ₹1,400 per month, paying two months’ security deposits for each. Both Shakil and Nabi are suspected to have used these spaces to stockpile explosives, coordinate movements, and plan the operation ahead of the Delhi blast. The sheer volume of recovered materials — nearly three metric tons — underscores the potential scale of the planned operation and the seriousness of the threat posed by the module.

On Tuesday, over 800 police personnel launched an extensive combing and search operation across areas under Dhauj police station limits. “Our teams are sweeping every lane, house, and field in the region to ensure no material or suspect remains undetected,” Dahiya said, highlighting the meticulous nature of the ongoing investigations.

The Red Fort Blast and Forensic Findings

The blast itself occurred during rush hour, causing panic and widespread damage. CCTV footage shows the white Hyundai i20 parked for nearly three hours before the explosion, indicating that the vehicle had been deliberately staged for maximum impact. Forensic experts have confirmed that the explosive used was Ammonium Nitrate Fuel Oil (ANFO), a high-intensity material commonly employed in large-scale bombings. The intensity of the blast not only damaged vehicles in the vicinity but also sent glass panels shattering at the Red Fort Metro Station, amplifying the chaos and panic.

Investigators believe that Dr Nabi, Shakil, and Rather meticulously planned and coordinated the operation, leveraging their knowledge and mobility to transport explosives from Faridabad to Delhi while attempting to avoid detection. Police sources suggest that the operation may have been triggered in response to the arrests of associates, reflecting a retaliatory motive.

Heightened Security and Ongoing Investigation

In the aftermath of the blast, both Delhi and Faridabad authorities have heightened security measures, deploying additional personnel and intensifying surveillance across key points. Intelligence agencies are actively tracking possible sleeper cells linked to the terror module to prevent further attacks.

Authorities are also examining the possibility of wider connections, given the scale of the explosive cache and the sophistication of the operation. The investigation spans multiple jurisdictions, with teams from Delhi Police Special Cell, National Investigation Agency (NIA), Intelligence Bureau (IB), and Faridabad Police working in tandem to trace every lead.

As the investigation unfolds, police are focusing on Nabi’s network of associates, their movements, and the sources of explosives. The probe aims to dismantle the module entirely, recover any remaining stockpiles, and ensure that no other individuals connected to the operation remain at large.

Public and Political Reactions

The Red Fort blast has triggered national outrage and heightened security concerns across Delhi-NCR. Union Defence Minister Rajnath Singh and Home Minister Amit Shah have assured the public that those responsible will be brought to justice and that the government is leaving no stone unturned in tracking down the conspirators. PM Modi, while on a state visit to Bhutan, expressed solidarity with the victims’ families and reaffirmed that the investigative agencies are working around the clock to bring the perpetrators to justice.

The incident has also sparked discussions about the vulnerability of high-security zones in the national capital and the need for improved intelligence-led preemptive measures. Authorities are evaluating how the perpetrators managed to transport such a large quantity of explosives across multiple locations without raising alarm, underscoring potential gaps in surveillance and monitoring.

Conclusion

The Red Fort blast has exposed a highly organized terror module operating under the guise of medical professionals, capable of planning and executing operations with devastating impact. With Dr Umar Un Nabi identified as a key suspect, investigators are piecing together a network involving at least three doctors, rented accommodations in Faridabad, and a meticulously staged explosion vehicle.

Authorities remain vigilant in Delhi-NCR and Faridabad, combing for any remaining explosives or associates, while intelligence agencies continue to monitor possible sleeper cells. The incident underscores the gravity of threats posed by radicalized individuals operating under seemingly benign professions and has prompted a nationwide reassessment of urban security protocols and terror-prevention measures.

As the probe continues, the focus remains on bringing all perpetrators to justice and ensuring that the terror network responsible for the Red Fort blast is dismantled in its entirety. The tragic incident serves as a stark reminder of the ever-present challenges in counter-terrorism and the importance of coordination between local, state, and central agencies in safeguarding national security.