The National Investigation Agency (NIA) has arrested a Kashmir resident who allegedly helped suicide bomber Umar Un Nabi execute last Monday’s deadly Red Fort blast. The agency said the accused, Amir Rashid Ali, a resident of Samboora in Pampore, was taken into custody in Delhi. The car used in the explosion had been registered in his name.
According to investigators, Amir travelled to Delhi specifically to facilitate the purchase of the vehicle that was later packed with improvised explosive devices (IEDs) and detonated near the historic Red Fort. NIA officials said his role was central to enabling Umar Nabi to carry out the attack, which killed several people and triggered a nationwide security alert.
The agency also confirmed that forensic analysis had definitively identified the deceased driver of the explosive-laden car as Umar Un Nabi, a Pulwama resident who worked as an assistant professor in the general medicine department at Al Falah University in Faridabad. Another vehicle belonging to Nabi has been seized and is currently being examined for evidence.
So far, the NIA has questioned 73 witnesses, including survivors of the blast, as part of a widening multi-state investigation. The agency is working in coordination with the Delhi Police, J&K Police, Haryana Police, UP Police and other central agencies to trace the full network involved.
Officials said they are pursuing multiple leads to uncover the wider conspiracy behind the bombing. During the search of the blast site, investigators recovered three 9mm cartridges two live rounds and one empty shell raising questions about how the ammunition ended up at the scene. Police noted that these cartridges are prohibited for civilian use.
In addition, a review of the terror module’s online communication channels has revealed several chats indicating attempts to radicalise and recruit other youths, including women. Investigators believe these conversations could point to a broader ideological indoctrination effort linked to the network behind the Red Fort attack. A deeper probe is underway to identify more collaborators and determine whether additional attacks were being planned.
