NIA Arrests Kashmiri Man Who Helped Delhi Bomber Procure Car Used In Red Fort Blast | India News

Amir Rashid Ali, in whose name the car involved in the attack was registered, was arrested from Delhi by the NIA.

Red Fort Blast: In a significant breakthrough, the National Investigation Agency (NIA) has arrested an aide of the suicide bomber, Dr Umar Nabi, who allegedly conspired the terror attack in the national capital that claimed at least 10 lives and left several others injured.

A massive blast rocked Delhi on the evening of November 10 when a Hyundai i20 car exploded at 6:52 pm near the Red Fort Metro Station, killing at least 10 people and injuring several others. The impact of the explosion was such that several vehicles were damaged, and visuals from the site showed mangled bodies and scattered debris.

The accused, identified as Amir Rashid Ali, a resident of Samboora in Pampore, Jammu and Kashmir, was arrested in Delhi after an intensive search operation launched by the NIA, which had taken over the investigation from the Delhi Police. The car used in the blast was registered in his name.

“NIA investigations had revealed that the accused, a resident of Samboora, Pampore in Jammu and Kashmir, had conspired with the alleged suicide bomber, Umar Un Nabi, to unleash the terror attack. Amir had come to Delhi to facilitate the purchase of the car, which was eventually used as a vehicle-borne Improvised Explosive Device (IED) to trigger the blast,” the anti-terror agency said in a statement.

According to the NIA, Amir had travelled to Delhi to help arrange the purchase of the vehicle that was later turned into a vehicle-borne Improvised Explosive Device (IED). The NIA has forensically confirmed that the deceased driver of the IED-laden car was Dr Umar Un Nabi, a Pulwama resident and Assistant Professor in the General Medicine department at Faridabad’s Al-Falah University.

Additionally, multiple searches were conducted at his residence in Samboor village, Pulwama. Amir’s brother is currently in the custody of the Jammu and Kashmir Police.

The probe agency has also seized another vehicle owned by Nabi, which is now being examined for potential evidence. Investigators have so far questioned 73 witnesses, including several of those injured in the explosion.

The NIA said that it is working closely with Delhi Police, Jammu & Kashmir Police, Haryana Police, Uttar Pradesh Police, and other central agencies to pursue multiple leads to unearth the larger conspiracy behind the bombing and identify others involved in the case.

Earlier today, investigators recovered three 9mm-caliber cartridges from the incident spot. Of the three, two were live rounds while one was an empty shell, it was known. According to officials, the ammunition is prohibited for civilian use and typically restricted to security forces or individuals with special authorisation.

“The staff deployed at the spot were also asked to check their issued ammunition, but none was found missing. The cartridges were there, but there was no weapon to fire them. We are trying to understand the entire matter that how the bullets reached the spot,” news agency PTI reported citing a source.

Meanwhile, the Delhi police have ramped up security across the central district, focusing on key areas of the national capital. Authorities have intensified verification drives, enhanced picket checks, and increased armed deployment at sensitive locations, officials said on Sunday.

During a special night-time operation on Saturday, police seized 34 unattended vehicles and issued 417 challans under the Delhi Police Act as part of a five-hour checking drive, a senior officer confirmed.