Faridabad, November 10, 2025: In a major breakthrough in a terror investigation spanning Jammu and Kashmir, Haryana, and Uttar Pradesh, police recovered around 2,563 kilograms of ammonium nitrate from a rented house in Fatehpur Taga village, Faridabad. Ammonium nitrate, a highly explosive chemical, is commonly used in making improvised explosive devices (IEDs). The discovery comes a day after authorities recovered 360 kilograms of explosives and weapons from another rented property in Dhauj village, marking a significant escalation in the ongoing probe.

Background of the Case

The house in Fatehpur Taga had been rented for about eight months by Dr. Muzammil Shakil, a 35-year-old physician from Pulwama, Jammu and Kashmir, who taught at Al-Falah Medical College. Police officials revealed that the ammonium nitrate consignment had been delivered to the doctor roughly 15 days prior to his arrest and was allegedly intended for assembling IEDs as part of a larger terror plot.

According to Varun Dahiya, Assistant Commissioner of Police (Crime), Faridabad, the property was rented from the local imam, Maulana Istaq, who has been detained for questioning. Police confirmed that they had also seized Istaq’s phone and were probing his potential involvement in the matter.

“We have found two houses that were rented by the accused. The ammonium nitrate was recovered from the cleric’s property. We are questioning Maulana Istaq, but it is too early to share further details,” Dahiya said.

Residents of the mosque expressed shock over the development. The wife of the imam remarked, “The police have taken away Imam Sahib. I don’t know why. He has been serving here for 20 years.”

Link to Previous Seizures

The ammonium nitrate seizure is linked to a broader terror investigation that gained momentum with the earlier recovery of 360 kilograms of explosives and weapons from a rented house in Dhauj village, Faridabad. That property was also associated with Dr. Shakil.

Officials have noted that these seizures are part of a coordinated multi-agency operation involving the police forces of Jammu and Kashmir, Haryana, and Uttar Pradesh, as well as central intelligence agencies. Faridabad police have declined to provide further details, citing the sensitivity of the ongoing investigation.

“Revealing more at this stage could hamper the probe,” a senior officer said.

Role of Other Suspects

Investigators are also probing the role of a woman doctor known to Dr. Shakil. During the investigation, an AK Krinkov rifle, three magazines, a pistol with live rounds, and two empty cartridges were recovered from a vehicle registered under her name. She is currently under interrogation in Jammu and Kashmir.

The operation underscores the multi-state dimension of the terror module and the significant quantities of explosive materials involved. Authorities suspect that the ammonium nitrate was being stockpiled for potential attacks in urban centers, though they have not disclosed specific targets.

Police Statement

Faridabad police have confirmed the detention of the house owner and the imam for questioning. Additional searches are reportedly underway in the surrounding areas to identify other accomplices and to track the source and supply chain of the explosives.

The scale of the ammonium nitrate seizure, along with the discovery of weapons in multiple locations, represents a major breakthrough in preventing a potentially large-scale terror incident. Investigators continue to piece together the activities of Dr. Shakil and his associates to uncover the full extent of the plot.