The National Investigation Agency (NIA) has arrested Jasir Bilal Wani, an alleged ‘active co-conspirator’ linked to the recent car blast near the iconic Red Fort in Delhi that claimed 13 lives. NIA officials made the announcement on Monday, detailing how this apprehension increases the scope of their ongoing investigation into a wider interstate network associated with Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM).
Wani, a resident of Qazigund in Anantnag district of Jammu and Kashmir, faces serious charges for providing technical support for terror operations. This includes modifying drones and attempting to fabricate rockets in preparation for the November 10 explosion, according to an official statement from the NIA. The agency took Wani into custody in Srinagar, where he is also known by the alias Danish.
Officials report that Wani worked closely with Umar un Nabi, the suicide bomber, to plan the attack. They are examining various angles to uncover the complete conspiracy behind the blast in the national capital. Multiple investigation teams scour different states, pursuing leads to identify all individuals connected to this terror plot.
A graduate in political science, Wani revealed during interrogations that Umar had radicalized and brainwashed him for several months, convincing him to become a suicide bomber. They first met at a mosque in Kulgam in October last year, before Wani was taken to a rented place near Al Falah University in Faridabad, Haryana.
While the broader module intended for Wani to serve as an over-ground worker (OGW) for JeM, Umar aimed to recruit him specifically for a suicide operation. This plan collapsed in April when Wani hesitated, citing financial struggles and an objection to suicide from an Islamic perspective.
The investigation indicates that the scouting for a suicide bomber adds a dangerous new dimension to the probe involving a sophisticated interstate terror network connected to JeM. Reports indicate that Umar, a 28-year-old doctor from Pulwama, emerged as the network’s central figure, establishing connections across Kashmir, Haryana, and Uttar Pradesh.
Officials suspect he was preparing for a VBIED (vehicle-borne improvised explosive device) attack that might align with the December 6 anniversary of the Babri Masjid demolition. His objective appeared to involve detonating a bomb in a crowded location, either in Delhi or at a religious site, before vanishing.
During earlier interrogations, it came to light that Umar’s radicalization escalated after a 2021 trip to Turkiye alongside Dr. Muzammil Ahmad Ganaie, a co-accused. This excursion allegedly facilitated their meeting with JeM over-ground workers, significantly deepening his radical tendencies. Following their return, both men engaged in purchasing vast quantities of chemicals, including 360 kg of ammonium nitrate, potassium nitrate, and sulphur, much of it stockpiled near their campus in Faridabad.
The larger plot began to unravel on October 19 when JeM posters surfaced in Bunpora and Nowgam near Srinagar. This prompted the local police to register a case, scrutinizing CCTV footage, which led to the arrest of three individuals with established records of stone-pelting: Arif Nisar Dar (alias Sahil), Yasir-ul-Ashraf, and Maqsood Ahmad Dar (alias Shahid).
Their arrests initiated further inquiries, resulting in the capture of Maulvi Irfan Ahmad, a former paramedic who converted to an Imam in Shopian. Authorities assert he provided the posters and played an instrumental role in radicalizing the doctors involved in this terror endeavor.
