Speaking in fluent English, the radicalized doctor from Pulwama, Jammu and Kashmir, chillingly justifies suicide bombing as a "misunderstood concept" and reframes it as a "martyrdom operation" sanctioned in his twisted interpretation of Islam. The footage, recovered from a co-accused's phone during the ongoing NIA probe, underscores the premeditated nature of the Red Fort terror attack that claimed 15 lives and injured over 25 others.
The Delhi blast investigation took another dramatic turn today as Patiala House Court granted the National Investigation Agency (NIA) 10 days' custody of Jasir Bilal Wani, alias Danish, a key terror module operative arrested from Srinagar. Wani, a political science graduate from Qazigund in Anantnag district, allegedly provided critical technical support to Umar, including modifying drones and building rockets for a Hamas-style attack on crowded Indian cities. This comes amid heightened security, with bomb squads deployed at courts and raids intensifying across Delhi-NCR, Haryana, and Kashmir.
Umar Nabi's Radicalized Rant: "Martyrdom Operation, Not Suicide Attack"
In the 1-minute-20-second undated video, shot in what appears to be a dimly lit room—possibly Room No. 13 at Al-Falah University's guesthouse in Faridabad—Umar delivers a calm, rehearsed monologue. "One thing that was not understood is that this was a martyrdom operation, not a suicide attack. There are many contradictions regarding this. In fact, for a martyrdom operation, it is believed that a person takes his own life at a specific place at a specific time," he says, dismissing critics and urging followers not to "fear death."
Forensic evidence, including DNA matching from human remains in the Hyundai i20's wreckage, has confirmed Umar's identity as the bomber. The 28-year-old assistant professor at Al-Falah University, who taught general medicine, had been radicalized during a 2021 trip to Turkey with co-accused Dr. Muzammil Ahmad Ganaie, where they allegedly connected with Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM) overground workers. Investigators believe the video was intended to indoctrinate recruits, revealing Umar's role as the ideological linchpin of this "white-collar terror module" of educated professionals.
New CCTV footage from November 10 shows Umar, masked and driving the explosive-laden i20, stopping for 10 minutes at a mosque on Aruna Asaf Ali Road before parking near Red Fort. The blast erupted at 6:52 PM at a Subhash Nagar traffic signal, gutting vehicles and shattering nearby shops. Traces of ammonium nitrate—part of 2,900 kg seized from module hideouts—were found in his room, pointing to hasty execution amid police pressure.
NIA Cracks Down: Jasir Bilal Wani's 10-Day Remand and Foiled Drone Plot
The NIA arrests in the Delhi terror attack case now total nine, with six being doctors from institutions like Al-Falah University and GS Medical College. Jasir Bilal Wani, detained four days ago by Jammu and Kashmir Police, was formally arrested Monday for his "active co-conspirator" role. Court documents reveal he was Umar's first choice for the suicide mission but backed out in April 2025, citing financial woes and Islamic prohibitions on self-harm—ironically, views Umar publicly contradicted in his video.
Wani's expertise in drone modification was pivotal: He developed heavy-duty models with cameras and batteries to drop bombs in crowded areas, mimicking the October 7, 2023, Hamas assault on Israel. "The module planned a multi-city strike on December 6, codenamed 'D-6,' targeting temples and military sites with IEDs via drones," NIA sources said. Wani's interrogation exposed encrypted chats on apps like Threema and Session, used by the group to evade detection—apps originally for privacy but now terror tools.
Earlier, main accused Aamir Rashid Ali, from Pampore, was remanded for 10 days; the blast car was registered in his name, and he provided safe houses and logistics. Tragically, Wani's father, Bilal Ahmad, died Sunday after self-immolating outside their Qazigund home, allegedly in distress over police questioning—sparking accusations of "high-handedness" from PDP chief Mehbooba Mufti.
ED Raids and Broader Network: Al-Falah University Under Scrutiny
The Enforcement Directorate (ED) launched simultaneous raids at 25 locations, including Al-Falah University's Okhla office and the Delhi home of trustee Saud Siddiqui. Initial probes uncovered irregularities in nine shell companies linked to the trust: fake addresses, shared contacts, missing EPFO records, and dubious UGC/NAAC claims. Dr. Shaheen, who bought the i20 from Faridabad on September 25 with terrorist Muzammil, is among those implicated.
Counter-Intelligence Kashmir (CIK) raided Anantnag homes, including Ghulam Nabi Hajam's, to dismantle recruitment networks promoting radicalization. A ₹5 lakh reward was announced in Poonch for tips on terrorists. Meanwhile, a bomb threat hoax at Patiala House Court prompted RAF deployment, and Haryana DGP OP Singh inspected Al-Falah University.
Political Reactions: From Condemnation to Controversy
The video has ignited fury. All India Muslim Jamaat's Mufti Shahabuddin Razvi Barelvi branded Umar a "criminal" whose justification defies Islamic principles. Former J&K DGP SP Vaid called him "highly brainwashed," likening it to the Pulwama bomber's pre-attack video. J&K CM Omar Abdullah demanded "stringent punishment" but urged against stigmatizing innocent Kashmiris.
Critics, including BJP spokesperson Shehzad Poonawalla, slammed Congress leaders like Imran Masood for calling Umar a "misguided youth," accusing them of "votebank politics over national security." Congress's Salman Khurshid urged restraint, saying only official spokespersons should comment on this "sensitive matter."
The Bigger Threat: White-Collar Terror and Lessons for India
This Red Fort explosion exposes a disturbing evolution in Indian terrorism: educated, urban radicals using tech for asymmetric warfare. The module's shift from Telegram to ultra-secure apps like Threema highlights tracking challenges, prompting calls for stricter digital regulations. With the death toll at 15 and injured facing hearing issues and burns, PM Modi vowed no mercy for conspirators, as global leaders like US Secretary Marco Rubio praised India's "measured" response.
As NIA teams scour 73 witnesses and 40 forensic leads, the Delhi blast probe remains a race against time to avert more carnage. Umar's video isn't just a confession—it's a manifesto of hate, reminding us that radicalization preys on the privileged. India must fortify its defenses, from campuses to cyberspace, to crush this venomous ideology.
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