In a shocking development surrounding the tragic explosion near Delhi’s historic Red Fort, investigators have zeroed in on Dr Umar Nabi Bhat as a key figure — possibly the leader — of a terror module operating through medical professionals. The young doctor, once among the state toppers in the competitive NEET-PG examination, has become the central suspect in a case that blends education, medicine and terrorism.

On November 7, just three days before a shocking explosion ripped through an i20 car near the Red Fort in Delhi, a man identified as Dr Umar Nabi Bhat made a brief phone call to his sister-in-law in Pulwama. Calmly, he told her that he would be back home in three days. That call, routine as it seemed, would soon become the last conversation his family would have with him before a chain of unsettling events unfolded.

On Monday night, as the Bhat family in Koil village, Pulwama, waited for Umar to return, a police team arrived at their home. They first asked for his brother, Zahoor Illahi, and took him away without explanation. Within hours, they returned to take Ashiq Hussain, the elder brother. “The Bhats said they were not given any reason,” the family recounted. Umar’s father, Ghulam Nabi Bhat, was also detained for questioning, while his mother was taken for DNA sampling, reportedly to help investigators confirm identities.

According to Delhi Police, Umar is believed to have been the leader of a “white-collar” group of doctors linked to a terror module uncovered shortly before the Red Fort explosion. One investigating officer stated, “He is suspected to have been steering and motivating the rest of the flock.”

However, Umar’s family continues to deny these allegations. They insist that the man they knew could not be involved in terror activities. His sister-in-law Muzamil said that Umar had always been quiet and deeply focused on his career. “He was working as a faculty at a college in Faridabad. He called on Friday saying he is busy with examinations and will return home after three days. He was a reserved kind of person right from childhood,” she explained.

She spoke of their family’s sacrifices and disbelief at the accusations. “We struggled a lot to ensure he gets educated so that he is able to take care of himself and the family. This is unbelievable,” she added, holding back tears. Umar had last visited Kashmir two months ago, Muzamil recalled.

Investigators suspect that the explosives used in the Red Fort blast were composed of ammonium nitrate, fuel oil, and detonators, materials similar to those seized in a major raid in Faridabad, where nearly 2,900 kg of explosive substances were recovered. Police sources noted that “final reports are awaited.”

Following the discovery, an FIR was filed under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA) and the Explosives Act, addressing sections related to both the planning and execution of a terror attack. The Union Home Ministry later transferred the case to the National Investigation Agency (NIA) for a deeper probe.

On the night of November 11, the police from Jammu & Kashmir arrived at Umar Nabi Bhat’s residence in Pulwama district and took his brother Zahoor Illahi in for questioning, followed by another brother Ashiq Hussain and father Ghulam Nabi Bhat. The police also took Umar Bhat’s mother for DNA sampling. These steps followed suspicions that Dr Umar was not just a participant but a guiding force behind what authorities are calling a “white-collar group” of doctors in the terror cell. According to one officer involved in the investigation: “He is suspected to have been steering and motivating the rest of the flock.”

For his part, Umar’s extended family maintain they were completely in the dark. His sister-in-law, Muzamila Akhtar, said: “We didn’t know anything. We came to know about him (Umar) only when the media arrived here this morning.”

Dr Umar’s professional and academic trajectory deepens the sense of betrayal this case has stirred. He completed his school education in his village, then earned an MBBS from the Government Medical College in Srinagar. Bhat was among the state toppers in the NEET-PG exam and secured a seat for an MD at GMC. He went on to practice at GMC Anantnag. About a year and a half ago, he moved to Faridabad in Haryana to join the Al Falah University’s School of Medical Sciences and Research as an Assistant Professor.

‘Delhi Blast Caused by the Same Explosives Found in Faridabad Hideouts, Suspect Fled in a Hurry after Al Falah Hospital Raids’: Report

Authorities recently dismantled a module of the proscribed group Jaish‑e‑Mohammed, apprehending several doctors with huge quantities of ammonium nitrate and assault weapons. On 10 November, a blast occurred near the Red Fort in Delhi just hours following this development, resulting in the deaths of nearly a dozen individuals and injuring many more.

According to the security establishment, the blast was likely a result of panic and desperation in another part of the terror network, because vigilant agencies had already exposed their bases and hideouts across Jammu & Kashmir, Haryana and Uttar Pradesh. A senior official disclosed: “Raids by security agencies across multiple locations in Delhi-NCR and Pulwama, which led to the recovery of nearly 3,000 kilograms of explosives, are believed to have forced the suspect to act hastily under mounting pressure,” as reported by The Times of India.

Investigators said the device used in the explosion was not completely developed and was only loosely put together, which limited its impact and proved the rush to act. The police found that there was no crater left by the explosion and no bullets or shrapnel were discovered, raising questions about the nature of the blast.

An officer further detailed: “Dr Umar, a member of the module, changed his location from Al Falah Medical College campus following the crackdown on other members of his module. He is the one who was driving the car used in the blast, as corroborated by CCTV footage. The blast was caused by the very same explosives that were found in Faridabad hideouts.” The source added: “Whether this blast was pre-meditated or accidental is a matter of investigation.”

There were additional indicators that raised suspicion: the car involved was moving through traffic rather than being driven into a crowd, which is a more typical tactic in vehicle-borne IED assaults aimed at maximising casualties. Officials say this suggests the explosion could have been triggered during transit from point A to point B rather than as a targeted attack.

Officials described the fatalities as unfortunate, but stated that a large strike was not achievable due to the police’s alertness in recognising the JeM posters in J&K and the subsequent intelligence and police operations. According to the officer, the destruction of the terror module that caused the hasty explosion in Delhi demonstrated how vigilant the nation is against terrorism and further outlined: “This is a success of our intelligence agencies, security apparatus and law enforcement officers.”

The case originated with a few provocative posters emerging in Srinagar, prompting the formal complaint on 19 October. Notably, other Kashmiri doctors — Dr Muzammil Shakeel (alias Musaib) and Dr Adil Ahmed Rather — and Dr Shaheena Shahid from Lucknow were arrested amid the recovery of 2,900 kilograms of explosive material. Dr Shaheena was allegedly assigned by Sadia Azhar (sister of the Jaish-e-Mohammed chief Masood Azhar) to establish the women wing of JeM known as the Jamaat‑ul‑Mominaat in India and recruit new members. Meanwhile, Al Falah University in Faridabad is also under investigation after authorities unearthed a sizeable explosives cache and apprehended multiple doctors connected to it.

Family Shock and the Faridabad Connection

Umar’s sister-in-law Muzamila Akhtar recalled the night of uncertainty. “We didn’t know anything. We came to know about him (Umar) only when the media arrived here this morning,” she said.

Police sources confirmed that Umar had gone missing after another doctor, Dr Muzammil Ahmad Ganai, was arrested from Faridabad. Akhtar described how officers came in two separate rounds. “A police team led by a Superintendent of Police and his deputy arrived at our home Monday night. I stepped outside and they asked for Zahoor (Umar’s brother). I told them we would bring him to the police station in the morning but they did not listen and took him away,” she recalled.

Moments later, the officers returned. “The police came again after 15 minutes and asked for my husband (Ashiq Hussain). They said he will have to go with them and they will hand over Zahoor to him. They took our phones. When they didn’t return, I called the DSP. He asked me not to worry and go to sleep. I understood,” she said, her voice trembling.

Akhtar remembered Umar’s final call: “He wouldn’t make regular calls. We exchanged pleasantries. I asked him to come home. He said ‘I have already told you that I am busy with exams and have to be in the library’. He said he would come in three days. We tried to contact him again, but couldn’t.”

Umar’s journey had been marked by academic brilliance. After finishing school in Koil village, he pursued an MBBS from Government Medical College (GMC) Srinagar, where he was among the state toppers in NEET-PG, later earning an MD at the same college. He went on to work at GMC Anantnag before moving to Faridabad about 18 months ago to join Al Falah University’s School of Medical Sciences and Research as an Assistant Professor. Sources added that he was engaged to a doctor in Srinagar.

Meanwhile, just a kilometre away from Umar’s home, another family was reeling from similar shock. The relatives of Dr Muzammil Ganai refused to believe his alleged connection to a Jaish-e-Mohammed module. His sister Asmat Shakeel, who recently finished her MBBS from Bangladesh, said with disbelief, “I can’t believe it.” Her wedding, scheduled for November 10, was postponed after her brother’s arrest.

Muzammil, who last visited home in June, was reportedly cooperative during questioning. On October 30, police informed the family about his arrest. A son of farmer Shakeel Ahmad, Muzammil had graduated in 2017 from Batra (ASCOMS) Medical College in Jammu, later working at Sher-i-Kashmir Institute of Medical Sciences (SKIMS) before moving to Al Falah University. “He was working there and also doing his DNB (Diplomate of National Board),” said his younger brother Azad Shakeel, who is now preparing for the UG NEET exam.

On Monday, police detained Abbas Shakeel, Muzammil’s elder brother, for questioning. Investigators said Muzammil’s information led them to a massive cache of explosives in Faridabad and to another doctor, Dr Adeel Majeed Rather, from Qazigund in Kulgam.

Adeel’s background was equally impressive. A former student of GMC Srinagar, he completed his MBBS in 2019 and his MD in 2022 in General Medicine. Until October 2024, he was working as a senior resident at GMC Anantnag, before joining a private hospital in Saharanpur, Uttar Pradesh.