Red Fort blast: Dr Umar raised Rs 20 lakh for plot, DNA confirms his death in car explosion
New Delhi: The investigation into the Red Fort blast has uncovered a detailed terror funding network and confirmed the death of key conspirator Dr Umar Mohammad, even as Delhi Metro authorities closed the nearby Lal Quila station indefinitely amid heightened security concerns.
According to Delhi Police and forensic sources, DNA analysis has conclusively identified the remains found at the blast site as those of Dr Umar, who was driving the i20 car that exploded near the Red Fort on Monday evening. DNA samples collected from his mother matched the biological material retrieved from the wreckage, confirming his direct role in the attack.
Investigators revealed that Dr Umar and his associates, identified as Dr Muzammil, Dr Adeel, and Shaheen, raised nearly Rs 20 lakh in cash to fund the operation. The group allegedly purchased more than 20 quintals of NPK fertiliser worth around Rs 3 lakh from Gurugram, Nuh and nearby regions, suspected to have been used in fabricating improvised explosive devices (IEDs).
Sources said that the terror module had links to proscribed outfits Jaish-e-Mohammed and Ansar Ghazwat-ul-Hind and was part of a “white-collar” network spanning Jammu and Kashmir, Haryana and Uttar Pradesh. The Delhi Police earlier arrested eight people connected to the module, including three doctors. Investigators also seized nearly 3,000 kilograms of explosive materials such as ammonium nitrate, potassium chlorate and sulphur during raids.
In a striking detail, CCTV footage and local intelligence reports revealed that minutes before the explosion, Umar visited a mosque in Old Delhi, where he stayed for about 10 minutes before driving towards the Red Fort. Officials are probing whether he met any accomplices or received last-minute instructions there.
The explosion occurred at around 6:52 pm on November 10, killing 12 people and injuring several others, while sending shockwaves through the capital. The blast near the iconic 17th-century monument has prompted a massive security clampdown across Delhi’s high-security zone.
Following the blast, the National Investigation Agency (NIA) formally took over the probe from the Delhi Police’s Special Cell. NIA teams have cordoned off the area and are conducting detailed forensic examinations of debris, explosive residues and digital evidence.
Meanwhile, the Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (DMRC) announced that the Lal Quila metro station will remain closed until further notice as part of security measures. “Lal Quila Metro Station will remain closed till further notice due to security reasons,” DMRC stated in a post on X.
(with inputs from agencies)
