Next Story
Newszop

Delhi car blast: Who was Mohammad Umar? The J&K doctor driving the car that exploded near Red Fort

Send Push
NEW DELHI: The Hyundai i20 car used in the blast near Delhi’s Red Fort metro station parking was allegedly driven by Mohammad Umar, a Kashmiri doctor suspected to be behind the deadly explosion that killed 12 people and left several others injured, Delhi police sources told PTI on Tuesday.
Possible link to Faridabad terror module

Umar, a resident of Pulwama, is believed to have links with the Faridabad terror module where a large cache of explosives was recently seized.

According to police sources, initial findings suggest a connection between the Delhi blast and the Faridabad module from which 360 kg of ammonium nitrate was recovered. “Final reports are awaited,” a source told PTI.



CCTV footage from the site reportedly shows a "masked man" driving the car, police said. Multiple teams have been deployed to scan CCTV footage from the vicinity of Red Fort and nearby routes.

Hours before blast, 'white-collar' terror network busted

The explosion took place just hours after authorities uncovered a “white-collar” terror module, arresting eight individuals -- including three doctors -- and seizing 2,900 kg of explosives during coordinated raids on Monday.

Those arrested include Kashmiri doctors associated with Al-Falah University in Faridabad -- Muzammil Ganaie from Pulwama; Adeel Ahmad Rather, originally from Qazigund but arrested in Saharanpur; and Dr Shaheen Sayeed from Lucknow, reportedly Muzammil’s girlfriend.

A fourth doctor, Umar, also from Pulwama, remains absconding, and a lookout circular has been issued against him, making him the prime suspect.

The Uttar Pradesh ATS, along with the Lucknow Police, conducted a search at the residence of a doctor allegedly linked to Dr Shaheen, the woman doctor who was arrested on Monday from Faridabad, Haryana.

All the accused arrested in Haryana and Uttar Pradesh have been brought to Jammu and Kashmir for interrogation, officials said.
Jaish module and the car connection

PTI sources said Umar Mohammad, a doctor by profession, was allegedly associated with the Jaish-e-Mohammad (JeM) terror module. Another resident from Pulwama, Tariq, who has been arrested, is said to have provided the Hyundai i20 car to Umar.

After learning about the arrests of his associates linked to the Faridabad module, Umar Mohammad allegedly carried out the Red Fort attack fearing he too might be caught, sources told PTI.
DNA samples collected from suspect's mother

On Tuesday, police took the mother of the suspected driver for a DNA test in Pulwama district of Jammu and Kashmir.

“We have taken the mother of the suspect to collect DNA samples in order to match with the parts found at the scene of the blast,” an official said.

Two brothers of the suspect accompanied their mother to the hospital, officials added.

Three persons linked to the sale and purchase of the car involved in the blast have also been detained for questioning.
UAPA case registered

The Delhi Police have registered an FIR under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA) in connection with the Red Fort blast and conducted raids at multiple locations across the national capital.

Preliminary findings, officials said, point to a strong link between the explosion and the terror network busted in Faridabad.
Loving Newspoint? Download the app now