From funds to handlers, Delhi blast probe uncovers foreign role in Red Fort suicide attack

Authorities investigating the devastating Delhi blast have frozen bank accounts amounting to over Rs 2 lakh as they probe digital trails of calls, chats, and fund routes. According to a report by The Indian Express, security agencies probing the explosion near Red Fort are said to have found a “widespread network” that connects “ foreign handlers” in Afghanistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir to local operatives.

These local operatives, who also have links to the Jaish-e-Mohammad terror module, include Umar Nabi, the prime suspect of the suicide bombing that killed at least 12 people. Sources close to the investigation told The Indian Express that at least two “handlers” have been identified as Faisal Ishfaq Bhat and Dr Ukasha to have contacts with Indian operatives.

These operatives are currently believed to be in PoK and Afghanistan. Meanwhile, the report suggested that the third operative, identified as Hashim, has been in touch with the now-arrested cleric, Maulvi Irfan Ahmad Wagay, and some of the module’s members via Telegram.

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The links to foreign handlers

Investigators say the alleged links between “foreign handlers” and “local operatives” first emerged last month. The probe went that way after authorities began investigating threatening posters bearing the insignia of Jaish-e-Mohammad (JeM), which appeared across shopfronts and street corners on October 19.

The next day, authorities arrested three men from Nowgam — Yasir-ul-Ashraf, Arif Nisar and Maqsood Ahmad Dar. According to The Indian Express, investigators believe that the suspects admitted that the posters were their handiwork: Yasir had dictated the text, Arif had created it on his phone using an Urdu-font app.

Meanwhile, on November 5, Dr Rathar was picked up from Saharanpur, but Umar remained elusive. He had allegedly vanished from the Al-Falah University on the same afternoon Dr Ganai had been detained by the authorities. In light of this, a look-out certificate was issued, and the teams were dispatched to Delhi, Faridabad and Saharanpur, but he didn’t surface.

On November 10, CCTV cameras captured Umar in Old Delhi in a white Hyundai i20 entering a parking zone near the Red Fort at 3:19 pm. The car remained there for a few hours. At 6:48 pm, the car made its way into the heavy traffic, and a massive blast ripped through, killing 12 people in the area.

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The forensic team later concluded that the explosive device contained ammonium nitrate, potassium compounds, and TATP — a combination capable of producing extraordinary force.