Delhi Court Grants NIA Custody of Suspect Linked to Red Fort Blast
Court Proceedings and Arrest Details
A court in Delhi has placed an alleged key accomplice of Umar Nabi, the individual suspected of driving the vehicle that detonated near the Red Fort metro station, into the custody of the National Investigation Agency (NIA) for a duration of ten days.
Jasir Bilal Wani, also known as Danish, hails from Qazigund in the Anantnag district of Jammu and Kashmir. He was apprehended in Srinagar on Monday.
NIA's Findings and Allegations
The NIA has indicated that Wani allegedly played a role in providing technical assistance for terrorist activities, including modifying drones and attempting to manufacture rockets prior to the car bomb explosion.
According to the agency, Wani was a significant co-conspirator in the attack, collaborating closely with Nabi to orchestrate the violent incident.
Impact of the Blast
The explosion near the Red Fort metro station on November 10 resulted in the deaths of 13 individuals. Following the incident, the Union government classified it as a terrorist act.
Wani appeared before a special NIA court in Delhi on Monday for a hearing that was conducted behind closed doors.
The NIA informed the court that the blast aimed to instill fear across the nation.
Police Investigations and Raids
Prior to the explosion, law enforcement announced the dismantling of an inter-state and transnational terror network operating in Faridabad and Saharanpur, Uttar Pradesh. Among those detained were two doctors from Kashmir, Adeel Ahmad Rather and Muzamil Shakeel.
During various raids across multiple states, authorities reported seizing 2,900 kg of materials intended for the creation of improvised explosive devices.
Ongoing Operations in Jammu and Kashmir
In response to the blast and the terror module investigation, the Jammu and Kashmir Police conducted extensive raids at over 300 locations in the Kashmir valley, targeting individuals associated with the banned Jamaat-e-Islami.
These actions were prompted by intelligence suggesting that elements linked to the Jamaat-e-Islami, which is prohibited under the Unlawful Activities Prevention Act, were attempting to revive the organization under new identities.
However, the Jammu and Kashmir authorities have not officially connected the ongoing raids with the recent terror incidents.
Concerns for Kashmiri Students
The Jammu and Kashmir Students Association raised alarms on Monday regarding the profiling, eviction, and intimidation faced by Kashmiri students in various northern states following the November 10 blast.