Red Fort blast: NIA raids suspected hideouts in J&K’s Anantnag
Srinagar: The National Investigation Agency (NIA) team conducted searches in forested areas of Anantnag district, Jammu and Kashmir, on Tuesday as part of its probe into the November 10 blast near Delhi’s Red Fort, leaving 15 dead and several others injured.
The operation was carried out with the assistance of police and Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) personnel. Two accused, Dr Adeel Rather and Jasir Bilal Wani, who were arrested in connection with what authorities have described as a “white collar” terror module, were taken along during the search. The module allegedly involves doctors, university faculty members, and a trail of high-value financial transactions.
Investigators were told by the pair about suspected hideouts in the Mattan forest region of south Kashmir, prompting the operation.
Special court extends custody of accused
On Monday, the Special NIA Court at Patiala House extended by four days the custody of four men accused in the case – Dr Muzammil Shakeel Ganai of Pulwama, Dr Adeel Ahmed Rather of Anantnag, Dr Shaheen Saeed of Lucknow, and Mufti Irfan Ahmad Wagay of Shopian. The accused were produced before the court following the expiry of their initial ten-day remand with the NIA.
Principal District and Sessions Judge, Anju Bajaj Chandna, who presides as the Special NIA judge, ordered the extension during a closed-door hearing.
The NIA had requested a further five-day remand to continue its investigation into the blast and to determine the precise role of each accused in the case.
Dr Umar-un-Nabi was at the wheel of the explosives-laden i20 car that exploded outside Delhi’s Red Fort.
According to earlier reports, the highly organised terror module – led by a group of doctors – had been searching for a suicide bomber since last year, with Umar identified as the alleged chief architect of the plot.
PTI