The investigation into the November 10 Red Fort blast has begun to reveal the complex support network behind what the National Investigation Agency (NIA) has described as a suicide attack. According to findings placed before a Delhi court, Dr. Umar Nabi, a physician from Pulwama in South Kashmir, drove an explosive-packed Hyundai i20 that detonated near the historic Red Fort. The blast, which triggered panic in one of the most protected zones of the national capital, is now understood to have been the culmination of a coordinated effort involving at least two close aides who ensured that the attack could take place with logistical precision and elevated technical sophistication.

The NIA informed the court that Umar Nabi did not act alone. Rather, his actions were facilitated by two associates: Amir Rashid Ali, who handled logistics and arranged a safe house, and Jasir Bilal Wani, who allegedly provided technical assistance and helped Nabi with the tools and modifications required to execute a high-impact attack. The agency’s statements, supported by remand documents, underline an operation that was carefully planned and executed with the clear intention to cause widespread fear, disrupt public order and challenge the country’s security apparatus.

According to the NIA’s submission before Principal District and Sessions Judge Anju Bajaj Chandna at the Patiala House Courts, Umar Nabi’s movements in the days preceding the blast were crucially managed by Ali. A resident of Pampore in South Kashmir, Ali emerged as a pivotal figure in the logistics chain. The agency stated that Ali arranged a safe house for Nabi, giving him a discreet space where preparations could be carried out away from scrutiny. The safe house arrangement allowed Nabi to evade attention while he readied himself and the vehicle for the attack. The NIA has also noted that Ali is the registered owner of the Hyundai i20 used in the explosion, further deepening suspicions about his role as more than just a peripheral helper.

The court was informed that Ali’s custodial interrogation is essential for uncovering the larger conspiracy behind the attack. Investigators believe that his involvement extends beyond providing shelter or lending his vehicle, and that he may hold information about funding sources, additional collaborators and communication channels used by the group. The agency’s remand note emphasized that understanding Ali’s links could lead to the discovery of a wider network that supported or encouraged the attack. Given the seriousness of the accusations, the court granted the NIA ten days of custodial interrogation, during which Ali will also be taken to Kashmir for further questioning and evidence collection.

Parallel to Ali’s logistical support, the NIA has highlighted the technical role played by Jasir Bilal Wani, also known as Danish. A resident of Qazigund in Anantnag district, Jasir was arrested from Srinagar by an NIA team operating in the Kashmir Valley. According to statements released by the agency, Jasir was engaged in modifying drones and attempting to develop rockets, activities that indicate a concerted effort to explore new methods of causing destruction and bypassing traditional security obstacles. His alleged experimentation with drones and projectile-based weaponry signals an alarming trend toward technologically advanced terror operations in the region.

The NIA has described Jasir as an “active co-conspirator” in the Red Fort blast case and an aide to Umar Nabi. The agency believes that Jasir’s technical capabilities were instrumental in helping Nabi prepare the vehicle, refine the explosive mechanisms and possibly enhance the overall impact of the blast. While the car bomb itself was the primary weapon used in the attack, the references to drones and rockets suggest that the group may have been planning additional or alternative methods for future strikes. Jasir’s arrest is therefore a crucial development in understanding the reach and ambition of the terror module involved.

Investigators have emphasized that the blast’s precision and intensity were not incidental. The device was engineered to cause maximum fear and disruption. The Red Fort area is not only historically significant but also heavily guarded, making any attack in this zone a direct challenge to the state’s authority and capacity to protect national heritage sites. The NIA’s remand note underscored that the blast was intended to instill panic and convey a message aimed at undermining the country’s sovereignty and unity.

The identification of the suicide bomber as a medical professional has added a disturbing dimension to the case. Reports indicate that Nabi, despite his background as a physician, was drawn into extremist activities and ultimately committed to carrying out a lethal attack. His role as the driver of the explosive-laden vehicle suggests that he was prepared to die in the blast, a detail that investigators are still trying to contextualize within the broader recruitment and radicalization patterns in the region.

The involvement of individuals like Ali and Jasir demonstrates how terror operations increasingly rely on decentralized support systems. Logistics, shelter, vehicle procurement and technical modification are often distributed among individuals who may not be directly involved in the final act but whose contributions are indispensable to the execution of an attack. The NIA’s ongoing investigation is centered on identifying how these roles were assigned, who coordinated the operation and whether cross-border handlers or local networks were directing the trio’s activities.

In addition to probing the immediate collaborators, the agency is expected to focus on mapping the financial trails connected to the attack. The procurement of a vehicle, modification of explosive devices, acquisition of drone components and maintenance of safe houses require funding that likely points toward larger organizations or handlers with established channels. The Red Fort blast, by virtue of its location and the suicide element, suggests planning and backing that go beyond a small, isolated group.

Furthermore, the possibility that Jasir was experimenting with drones and rockets raises concerns about evolving tactics among terror outfits operating in or linked to Kashmir. Drone-based attacks, in particular, have become a growing threat globally, providing militants with the ability to transport explosives or conduct reconnaissance while minimizing risk. If Jasir was indeed modifying drones for such purposes, it is evidence of a shift toward adopting more sophisticated and less predictable methods of attack.

The NIA’s expanding investigation will likely continue to uncover additional layers of the conspiracy. With Ali and Jasir now in custody and their roles more clearly defined, investigators are working to determine how Umar Nabi was recruited, trained and instructed, and whether the Red Fort blast was meant to be a standalone event or part of a broader series of planned attacks. The discovery of technical experimentation and logistical preparation suggests that the module behind the attack was structured, resourceful and intent on striking high-value targets.

As the probe deepens, the Red Fort blast stands as a stark reminder of the persistent and evolving nature of terror threats. The attack, carried out in one of India’s most iconic and secure zones, underscores the challenges faced by security agencies in detecting and neutralizing plots designed with both traditional and advanced methods. The arrests of Ali and Jasir provide crucial leads, but they also highlight the need for vigilance against emerging technologies and localized radicalization pathways that enable such attacks to materialize.

The NIA’s findings mark a critical step in understanding how the suicide bomber received support and how his aides contributed to an attack intended to shock the nation. The unfolding investigation will determine the full extent of the network involved and shed light on the strategies used to plan and execute one of the most alarming incidents of the year.