On Monday, the National Investigation Agency (NIA) arrested another significant member of the group responsible for the November 10 Red Fort explosion, furthering its inquiry into what officials label as a well-organized, “white-collar” terrorist network operating across various states. The individual detained, 20-year-old Jasir Bilal Wani, also known as Danish, hails from Qazigund in Anantnag district of south Kashmir and is alleged to have played a pivotal technical role in the operation. The NIA claims Wani was involved in modifying drones and attempting to construct improvised rockets for the group.
An officer from the NIA indicated that initial investigations suggest Wani had close ties with suicide bomber Umar un-Nabi, who drove the vehicle loaded with explosives that detonated near the Red Fort. It is reported that Wani’s engineering skills were utilized to enhance the group’s offensive capabilities. This is the second arrest made in two days, following the apprehension of Amir Rashid Ali, a plumber from Kashmir, who owned the vehicle used by Nabi. Wani, currently a B.Sc. student at Degree College Lawdora, was first apprehended by the Jammu & Kashmir Police before being transferred to the NIA in Srinagar. He resided near Dr. Adeel Ahmad Rather, a doctor previously arrested in connection with the same network.
The situation took a tragic turn when Wani’s father, Bilal Ahmad, self-immolated after being unable to see his detained son and later succumbed to his injuries. Wani and his uncle, Nazir Ahmad Wani, were taken into custody on Friday. Officers from the Delhi Police aiding the NIA reported that Wani had met several members of the module at a mosque in Kulgam before travelling to Faridabad, where it is believed that components for the IED and other weapons were assembled. Authorities claimed that Nabi attempted to persuade Wani to become a suicide bomber, but although they had plotted attacks for over a year, Wani withdrew due to financial difficulties and religious objections to martyrdom.
Investigators have identified a highly coordinated network using encrypted communication, with members located across Delhi, Haryana, and Jammu & Kashmir. A Signal group established by Umar, marked with special characters for anonymity, is believed to have served as a central hub for key members including Dr. Muzammil Shakeel Ganaie, Adeel Ahmad Rather, Muzaffar Rather, and Molvi Irfan. The investigation escalated after arms, including a foreign-made rifle and a pistol, were discovered in the vehicle of another suspect, Dr. Shaheen Shahid, which trace back to 2024 when Umar acquired them for Molvi Irfan, a cleric suspected of recruiting for the module.
Authorities have indicated that interrogations demonstrate a clear division of roles: financial backing was provided by the three medical professionals—Muzammil, Shaheen, and Adeel—while Umar was responsible for training potential suicide bombers. A documented incident from October 2023 recorded Adeel and Umar visiting Irfan at Masjid Ali with a concealed rifle, which remained with Irfan overnight before being collected. The arrest of Amir Rashid Ali has reportedly elucidated the organization’s structure, indicating he collaborated with Umar to execute the vehicle-based suicide attack and frequently traveled with module members between Faridabad and Kashmir. The NIA has so far questioned 73 witnesses, including survivors of the attack, and anticipates more arrests across the country.
Agencies are currently concentrating on identifying external handlers, financial backers, and potential future targets.
