In one of India’s largest counter-terror operations, the Jammu and Kashmir Police, working closely with the Faridabad Police, exposed a dangerous inter-state terror network just hours before the Red Fort explosion in Delhi on November 10, which killed at least a dozen people and injured more than two dozen others.

The authorities confirmed that the busted module had links with Pakistan-backed terrorist groups Jaish-e-Mohammad (JeM) and Ansar Ghazwat-ul-Hind (AGH).

During the coordinated raids across Jammu and Kashmir, Haryana, and Uttar Pradesh, police arrested seven suspects, including three doctors from Kashmir, and seized a massive cache of arms, ammunition, and around 2900 kilograms of explosive-making material. The operation, which took place hours before the Red Fort tragedy, is now being described by senior officers as one of the most significant preventive actions in recent years.

Profiles of the Arrested Suspects

The investigation revealed the names and details of the eight individuals taken into custody in connection with the Faridabad Terror Module, along with a ninth member who later triggered the Red Fort blast.

1. Dr. Muzammil Shakeel Ganaie

“Dr Muzammil Ganaie, alias Musaib, was the first suspect to be arrested in connection with the terror module.”
A native of Koil village in Pulwama, Ganaie taught at Al Falah Hospital in Faridabad. Police recovered 358 kg of explosives from his rented home in Dhauj village, Faridabad. Both Ganaie and Dr Umar Nabi, who carried out the Red Fort explosion, hailed from the same village, suggesting that the local network had deeper roots than initially suspected.

2. Dr. Adeel Rather

Following Ganaie’s arrest, police detained Dr. Adeel Rather, another doctor from Kashmir.
“Rather, a resident of Kulgam, completed his MBBS from the Government Medical College, Srinagar, in 2018, and received his MD degree in General Medicine in 2022.”
He worked as a Senior Resident at GMC Anantnag from October 2022 to October 2024 before being arrested in Saharanpur, Uttar Pradesh. Interrogations suggest that Rather had been in close contact with members of the terror group through encrypted messaging apps.

3. Maulvi Irfan Ahmad Wagay

“Maulvi Irfan Ahmad, also known as Imam Irfan, is a cleric from Shopian in Kashmir.”
He served as the imam of a mosque in Shopian, and according to the police, he played a crucial role in radicalising several members of the module. Investigators believe that Wagay used religious gatherings to recruit and influence youth under the guise of spiritual instruction.

4. Arif Nisar Dar

“Arif Nisar Dar is a resident of Nowgam in Srinagar. Dar is believed to have been in contact with Irfan Ahmad and Muzammil Ganaie.”
Dar’s digital devices, seized during the raid, reportedly contained messages and voice notes exchanged with the JeM handlers.

5. Yasir-ul-Ashraf

“Yasir-ul-Ashraf, alias Sahil, is a resident of the same locality as Dar and runs a business.”
He had been assisting in logistics and funds management for the network. He operated from his uncle’s shop in Nowgam, which the police believe served as a meeting point for module members.

6. Maqsood Ahmad Dar

“Maqsood Ahmad Dar, alias Shahid, is a native of Nowgam, Anantnag and worked as an accountant at a local iron and steel shop.”
His accounting background reportedly helped the group maintain a record of financial transactions funneled through informal channels.

7. Zameer Ahmad Ahanger

“Zameer Ahmad Ahanger, alias Mutlasha, comes from Wakura in central Kashmir’s Ganderbal.”
Ahanger was unemployed, but investigations suggest he was in charge of storing raw explosive materials supplied from different regions.

8. Dr. Shaheen Shahid

“Dr Shaheen Shahid, from Lal Bagh, Lucknow, was arrested after an assault rifle was discovered in her vehicle.”
She allegedly led the Indian wing of Jamaat ul-Mominaat, the women’s wing of Jaish-e-Mohammad, and was actively recruiting new members. Reports indicate that she took instructions from Sadia Azhar, who leads the outfit in Pakistan and is the sister of JeM founder Masood Azhar Alvi.
Shaheen, affiliated with Al-Falah University, reportedly maintained a close relationship with Dr. Muzammil Ganaie, which is now under detailed scrutiny by investigators.

The Ninth Member and the Red Fort Explosion

Apart from the eight captured individuals, the police identified a ninth member, Dr. Umar Nabi, also from Koil village in Pulwama, who executed the actual explosion.
“After the arrest of other members of the terror module by authorities, Dr Umar Nabi, who was driving a Hyundai i20 loaded with ammonium nitrate fuel oil, panicked and triggered an explosion in the Red Fort area.”
This tragic incident confirmed that the Red Fort blast was not an isolated act but part of a larger Pakistan-backed conspiracy.

Genesis of the Investigation

The investigation began on October 19, when the police discovered multiple Jaish-e-Mohammad posters pasted across Bunpora, Nowgam, containing threats and warnings directed at Indian security forces.
Authorities later revealed that these suspects were part of a “white-collar terror network,” consisting of educated individuals—doctors, professionals, and clerics—who combined intellectual skill with extremist motives to serve Pakistan-based handlers.