Pulwama house of Red Fort blast suspect Dr Umar Nabi blown up as probe uncovers deeper terror web

Security forces on November 14 razed the Pulwama residence of Dr Umar Nabi — the doctor accused of driving the explosive-laden Hyundai i20 that detonated near Delhi’s Red Fort earlier this week — in a controlled demolition carried out with an improvised explosive device (IED).

Officials confirmed that DNA samples recovered from the blast site matched those of Umar’s mother, establishing his identity and tying him directly to November 10 explosion, which killed 13 people and injured more than 20.

The demolition was conducted on early November 14, part of an intensified crackdown that has led to six arrests, including three members of Umar’s family. Investigators say the Kashmir-based doctor maintained close contact with two other detained medics — Dr Muzammil Ahmad Ganaie and Dr Shaheen Shahid — previously held after the Faridabad terror module was busted with 2,900 kg of explosives.

According to officials, Umar’s transformation from a promising young doctor into a hard-line extremist unfolded over the past two years, as he joined several radical messaging groups online. The trio allegedly used the Swiss encrypted platform Threema for coordination, while Umar also managed a smaller Signal group to execute parts of the operation.

Probes indicate the group amassed over ₹26 lakh in cash, trusting Umar to handle the finances. Investigators say the funds were used to purchase nearly 26 quintals of NPK fertilizer — a key ingredient in improvised explosive devices — from suppliers across Gurugram, Nuh and neighbouring districts.

Sources were quoted as saying by PTI that as many as eight suspects were preparing to split into pairs and execute synchronized blasts across four cities, pointing to a wider plot that was in motion before November 10 deadly attack.