New Delhi — November 30, 2025 :
The National Investigation Agency (NIA) deepened its probe into the November 10 low-intensity car bomb blast outside Delhi’s Red Fort with two major arrests from Haldwani, Uttarakhand. In coordinated dawn raids on November 29, the agency apprehended Abdul Rehman, a 45-year-old imam from a Banbhulpura mosque, and his associate Farooq Ahmed, 38, for allegedly procuring explosives used in the attack that injured five civilians, including a young street vendor.
Investigators revealed that the Maruti Alto used in the blast carried nearly 5 kg of gelatin and was triggered by a timer device. While the little-known outfit “Mujahideen Hindustan” initially claimed responsibility, digital forensics point to a Pakistan ISI-backed terror cell operating through a Jammu & Kashmir–based module.
According to NIA officials, Rehman became radicalized through encrypted Telegram channels and sourced explosive chemicals from quarry suppliers in Rajasthan. Ahmed reportedly coordinated transport and storage, with call records directly linking the pair to the prime suspect, Umar Nabi—a 29-year-old lab technician at Al-Falah University in Faridabad. The university was searched extensively, and 48 staff members, including 30 doctors, were questioned over suspicious ₹15 lakh transactions allegedly routing funds to the module.
NIA Director General A.K. Patel briefed Home Minister Amit Shah about the module’s operations, including evidence that 12 recruits were trained in assembling improvised explosive devices. Delhi Police Commissioner Sanjay Arora credited AI-driven surveillance analytics with identifying key movements that led to the arrests, prompting heightened security across 50 monuments ahead of Republic Day preparations.
The two accused have been charged under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA) and the Explosive Substances Act and have been remanded to NIA custody for 10 days. A parallel counter-radicalization probe has uncovered at least 20 encrypted university-based chats suspected of facilitating ideological indoctrination.
The Red Fort incident marks the first significant urban terror attack since the 2023 Coimbatore blast, highlighting the rise of digitally driven lone-wolf radicalization. Security expert Ajai Sahni emphasized the need for mandatory CCTV surveillance at prayer spaces and stronger cyber de-radicalization programs to prevent copycat attempts.
Meanwhile, the Delhi government has announced ₹5 lakh in ex-gratia relief for the victims, even as security agencies warn of heightened risks without sustained counter-radicalization initiatives.
