The authorities have confirmed that Dr. Umar Nabi Bhat, an assistant professor at Al-Falah University, was driving the Hyundai i20 that exploded near the Red Fort in the city on November 10, resulting in the deaths of 13 individuals. A DNA test has verified Bhat’s identity, providing crucial evidence for the ongoing investigation. Following this revelation, the Delhi Police have issued an urgent alert regarding Bhat’s ownership of an orange Ford EcoSport, in addition to the i20 involved in the blast. The EcoSport, registered in his name, is now part of a multi-state investigation after officials classified the incident as a terrorist act.
In a related development, the Jammu and Kashmir Police have detained Maulvi Ishtiyaq, a preacher from the Mewat region of Haryana, due to his alleged ties to a suspected white-collar terror group operating from a university campus in Faridabad. Investigators discovered that Ishtiyaq had been residing in rented accommodations on the Al-Falah University campus, where previous searches uncovered 2,500 kg of explosives, including ammonium nitrate and potassium chlorate. The blast has been labeled a terrorist incident, and U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio commended Indian authorities for their careful and thoughtful handling of the Red Fort investigation.
Additionally, Delhi IT Minister Pankaj Kumar Singh reviewed several key projects within the Information Technology Department, such as the Unified Data Hub (UDH) and the Common Service Center (CSC) Integration. His office has confirmed that they are analyzing IT strategies from states like Haryana, Maharashtra, and Rajasthan to adopt best practices. The UDH aims to create a centralized database of beneficiaries to streamline welfare services, while CSC Integration will enhance access to 75 essential services for citizens.