The National Investigation Agency (NIA) arrested another active co-conspirator on Monday in connection with the November 10 Red Fort blast, continuing its probe into what officials described as a highly organised "white-collar" terror module operating across several states.
According to a report by The Hindustan Times, the arrested man, Jasir Bilal Wani, alias Danish, is a 20-year-old resident of Qazigund in south Kashmir's Anantnag district. Wani provided "critical technical support" to the group, including modifying drones and attempting to fabricate rockets.
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Worked closely with suicide bomber Umar un-Nabi
An NIA official said, "Preliminary findings suggest Wani was an active co-conspirator and worked closely with the suicide bomber, Umar un-Nabi, who drove the explosive-laden vehicle that blew up near the Red Fort. Wani’s technical skills were leveraged to enhance the module’s strike capability."
This is the second arrest in the case in two days. On Sunday, the agency arrested Amir Rashid Ali, a plumber from Kashmir who owned the vehicle used by Nabi.
Wani, a Bachelor of Science student at Degree College Lawdora, was initially detained by the Jammu & Kashmir Police before being handed over to the NIA team in Srinagar. Officials said he lived next to Dr Adeel Ahmad Rather, another doctor arrested earlier.
Father’s tragic self-immolation
As per the report by The Hindustan Times, meanwhile, Wani's father, Bilal Ahmad, attempted self-immolation on Sunday morning after failing to see him and his detained brother, and later succumbed to his injuries. Wani had been picked up on Friday along with his uncle, Nazir Ahmad Wani, a physics lecturer.
Meetings, travel and alleged brainwashing attempts
Delhi police officials assisting NIA said that Wani met key members of the module at a mosque in Kulgam and travelled thereafter to a rented accommodation near Al-Falah University in Faridabad, where parts of the IED and other weapons were allegedly prepared. Officials added that Nabi had tried to brainwash Wani into becoming a suicide bomber, but he backed out due to his family's financial condition and because suicide is forbidden in their religion.
Encrypted chats reveal inner circle of the module
An official asking not to be named said, "The group communicated primarily through a Signal messaging channel created by Umar nearly three months ago, using a name written in special characters to evade detection… At least four members — Dr Muzammil Shakeel Ganaie, Adeel Ahmad Rather, Muzaffar Rather (Adeel’s brother) and Molvi Irfan — were part of this encrypted hub, believed to be the module’s central coordination platform."
The probe also tracked a weapons trail, dating back to 2024, implicating Umar, cleric Molvi Irfan, and others. Repeated transfers of rifles among the suspects indicated “distributed responsibilities within a trusted core”, said an official.
He further said, "We have also documented a clear division of roles. Financial support was to be marshalled by the three medical professionals – Muzammil, Shaheen and Adeel – with Muzammil playing a central role. Umar had been attempting to prepare several young men for potential suicide missions."
Amir Rashid Ali's arrest has further clarified the module's movements, with evidence showing that he conspired with Umar to execute a suicide attack and travelled with members to Faridabad and Kashmir, Hindustan Times reported. The NIA has examined 73 witnesses so far.
