Red Fort blast: Joining the dots between doctors, explosives and a terror web

New Delhi: A powerful explosion near Delhi’s Red Fort on Monday evening has sent shockwaves through India’s security establishment, uncovering what investigators now describe as a “white-collar terror ecosystem” — a network of highly educated professionals allegedly linked to terror outfit Jaish-e-Mohammed.

The blast, which ripped through a white Hyundai i20 around 6:52 pm near the Red Fort Metro Station, killed at least eight people and injured over 20. The explosion, triggered at a busy traffic signal between Red Fort and Chandni Chowk, created a massive fireball that engulfed multiple vehicles.

Within hours, Delhi Police, National Security Guard (NSG), and forensic teams cordoned off the site.

The car — car-registration HR26 CE 7674 — was traced through a string of ownerships: from Salman to Devender, then Aamir, Tariq, and finally to Dr Umar Mohammad, a Kashmiri doctor now suspected of being the driver at the time of the explosion. CCTV footage partially captured his face moments before the blast.

The Network Unraveled

Investigations have led authorities to three Kashmiri doctors — Dr Adeel Ahmad Rather, Dr Muzammil Shakeel, and Dr Umar Mohammad — all linked to a busted module spread across Jammu & Kashmir, Haryana, Uttar Pradesh, and Delhi.

According to the Jammu and Kashmir Police, the arrests of Adeel and Muzammil in Saharanpur (UP) and Faridabad (Haryana) last week led to the recovery of nearly 2,900 kg of suspected ammonium nitrate and a cache of sophisticated weapons. Forensic analysis suggests that the same explosive compound was used in the Red Fort blast.

Dr Umar Mohammad, believed to have been at the wheel during the explosion, was reportedly under pressure after his associates’ arrests. Investigators are probing whether he carried out a suicide attack in panic to destroy evidence and divert attention from the busted network.

White-Collar Terror: A New Template

Officials have termed this case a “white-collar terror operation”, marking a dangerous evolution in recruitment strategy.

Unlike traditional foot soldiers, these suspects were educated professionals — doctors who allegedly raised funds under the guise of charitable or social work, coordinated via encrypted platforms, and procured explosives using their academic and professional networks.

Jammu and Kashmir Police said, “Funds were raised through professional and academic channels, with accused persons involved in radicalisation, recruitment, and procurement of arms and material for IEDs.”

National Security Response

The case has now been registered under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA) and the Explosives Act. The National Investigation Agency (NIA) is expected to take over the probe.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Home Minister Amit Shah have been briefed, while Defence Minister Rajnath Singh has vowed, “Those responsible will not be spared. The attackers will be brought to justice.”

Security has been tightened across Delhi, with the Red Fort sealed off for 72 hours for forensic examination.

Timeline of the blast:

• Three weeks before November 10, 2025: Posters supporting Jaish-e-Mohammed appear across Srinagar. J&K Police begin probing a new terror recruitment network.
• November 10, 2025 — 6.52 pm: A white Hyundai i20 stops at a traffic signal near Red Fort Metro Station. A massive explosion occurs, killing at least eight and injuring over 20.
• Immediately after: Fifteen fire engines rush to the scene; nearby vehicles are destroyed. Panic spreads through Old Delhi’s congested lanes.
• Late evening: CCTV footage helps trace the blast car’s ownership history — from multiple hands to Dr Umar Mohammad.
• Earlier (linked investigation): J&K Police and Haryana Police seize 2,900 kg of ammonium nitrate in Faridabad; doctors Adeel Ahmad Rather and Muzammil Shakeel arrested.
• November 11, 2025 (Morning): Delhi Police registers a case under UAPA. NIA involvement expected. Officials confirm links between the doctors, seized explosives, and the Red Fort blast.

Authorities say the investigation is far from over. As agencies connect digital footprints, fund trails, and interstate movement, the Red Fort blast appears to be more than an isolated attack — it may expose the anatomy of a new-age terror network operating under professional disguise.