New Delhi: The National Investigation Agency has arrested a crucial aide of the alleged suicide attacker responsible for the November 10 blast near the Red Fort that killed 13 people. The accused, identified as Amir Rashid Ali from Samboora in Jammu and Kashmir’s Pampore area, was detained in Delhi on Sunday as part of the widening investigation into the vehicle-borne explosion.
This marks the first time the agency has formally referred to Dr Umar Un Nabi, who died in the blast, as a suicide bomber. Investigators say Amir played a direct role in preparing the attack and had travelled to Delhi to help acquire the white i20 car that was later used as an improvised explosive device. The vehicle was registered in his name, strengthening suspicions that he was involved in the logistical planning of the operation.
The explosion occurred when the car detonated near the Red Fort, and forensic DNA analysis confirmed the driver to be Dr Umar, who had been working at a medical college in Haryana. Police officers reported that his leg was wedged between the steering wheel and the accelerator, indicating he was driving at the moment of the blast.
The NIA, working with police forces from Delhi, Jammu and Kashmir, Haryana and Uttar Pradesh, continues to pursue multiple leads across several states. A second vehicle linked to Dr Umar has been seized for forensic examination, and investigators have questioned 73 witnesses so far, including survivors of the incident.
Authorities believe the attack may be linked to a recently exposed “white-collar” radical network involving medical professionals. The case has drawn significant attention due to the technical sophistication of the operation and the professional backgrounds of those allegedly involved.
The Union Cabinet earlier condemned the blast as a brutal and calculated act intended to destabilise the country. Officials reiterated that India remains firmly committed to its policy of zero tolerance toward terrorism and will continue to pursue all those responsible for planning and supporting the attack.
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