NIA Arrests Ninth Suspect Linked to Red Fort Blast in Delhi

NIA's Ongoing Investigation into Red Fort Blast

On Thursday, the National Investigation Agency announced the arrest of another individual implicated in the November 10 explosion near Delhi's Red Fort, which resulted in the deaths of 13 people.

The agency has identified the latest suspect as Yasir Ahmad Dar, a resident of Shopian in Jammu and Kashmir, who was apprehended in Delhi.

Dar is accused of being an active participant in the conspiracy surrounding the blast and allegedly pledged to engage in self-sacrificial operations.

According to the NIA, investigations revealed that Yasir maintained close communication with other suspects in the case, including Umar Un Nabi.

Nabi, a doctor, is believed to have been driving the vehicle that detonated. Following the explosion, the Union government labeled the incident as a terrorist act.

The NIA also reported that earlier this month, it conducted searches at various locations linked to individuals suspected of involvement in the blast. These operations took place in Jammu and Kashmir, resulting in the seizure of several devices and incriminating materials.

On December 9, the agency arrested Bilal Naseer Malla from Baramulla, Jammu and Kashmir, alleging that he provided shelter and logistical support to Nabi, as well as destroyed evidence related to the attack.

Previously, on November 16, the NIA arrested Amir Rashid Ali, who was identified as an aide to Nabi. The agency claimed that the Hyundai i20 used in the blast was registered under Ali's name, marking the first arrest in this case.

The following day, another associate of Nabi, Jasir Bilal Wani, was arrested in Srinagar. Wani hails from Qazigund in Anantnag, Jammu and Kashmir.

On November 20, four additional suspects were apprehended, including Muzammil Shakeel Ganai from Pulwama, Adeel Ahmed Rather from Anantnag, Mufti Irfan Ahmad Wagay from Shopian, and Shaheen Saeed from Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh.

On November 26, a seventh suspect named Soyab from Dhauj in Faridabad, Haryana, was arrested for allegedly providing support to Nabi.

Hours before the blast, police reported that they had dismantled an inter-state and transnational terror module operating in Faridabad and Saharanpur, Uttar Pradesh.

At that time, authorities revealed they had recovered 2,900 kg of materials used for making improvised explosive devices during raids across multiple states.

The NIA has been actively conducting raids in Jammu and Kashmir as part of its investigation into the blast and the associated terror module.