NIA conducts multiple raids across Jammu and Kashmir, Uttar PradeshOfficials said searches are underway at locations linked to suspects in Jammu and Kashmir, various districts, and Lucknow in Uttar Pradesh since early Monday.
In an ongoing investigation into Delhi’s car blast case, the National Investigation Agency (NIA) on Monday carried out raids at multiple locations in Pulwama, Shopian and Kulgam districts of Kashmir. The probe agency conducted searches across Jammu and Kashmir in connection with a “white-collar” terror module that was behind a car blast near Delhi’s Red Fort.
NIA conducts massive terror crackdown in Kashmir, UP
The residence of Moulvi Irfan Ahmad Wagay, the mastermind of the radicalisation and recruitment of the ‘white-collar’ terror module, in Shopian was also searched. The agency searched the residence of Dr Adeel Ahmad Rather, who was arrested from Uttar Pradesh’s Saharanpur in the first week of November. Officials also carried out raids at Koil, Chandgam, Malangpora and Samboora areas of Pulwama district, alleging that these locations were linked to people associated with the Delhi car blast case. Officials said searches are underway at locations linked to suspects in Jammu and Kashmir, various districts, and Lucknow in Uttar Pradesh since early Monday.
The move comes days after the agency arrested the seventh accused, Soyab of Dhauj, Faridabad, in connection with the November 10 Delhi car blast that claimed 15 lives and left several injured. Soyab allegedly sheltered the bomber, Umar Un Nabi, shortly before the terror act. He told the NIA during his interrogation that he “not only harboured Umar but also extended logistical support to facilitate the terrorist’s movements ahead of the attack.”On November 20, the agency arrested Shaheen Saeed along with Dr Muzammil Shakeel Ganai of Pulwama (Jammu and Kashmir), Dr Adeel Ahmed Rather of Anantnag (Jammu and Kashmir), and Mufti Irfan Ahmad Wagay of Shopian (Jammu and Kashmir). They were taken into custody by the NIA in Srinagar on production orders issued by the district sessions judge at Patiala House court.
Delhi Red Fort blast: What we know so far
Earlier, the NIA arrested two other accused– Amir Rashid Ali, in whose name the car used in the blast was registered, and Jasir Bilal Wani alias Danish, who had provided technical aid to the terrorist involved in the deadly attack. Shaheen was recently taken to Faridabad to recreate the plot of the terror plan as a massive cache of explosives (nearly 2,900 kg) was seized in Faridabad shortly before the blast, and the Hyundai i20 car used in the explosion was traced to a local dealer in the same area. The NIA said the inputs yet received have strengthened the agency’s understanding of the operational network behind the bombing. The NIA is continuing to track multiple leads and conduct searches across multiple states, in collaboration with local police forces, to identify additional suspects connected to the conspiracy. Officials said efforts remain underway to fully expose and dismantle the network involved in planning and executing the deadly attack. The agency has so far confronted all seven arrested accused.
The anti-terror agency, which was handed over the investigation by the Union Home Ministry soon after the attack, is working closely with various state police forces to track and arrest every member of the terrorist module involved in the carnage. The NIA launched massive searches the next day it took over the case from the Delhi Police.
(With inputs from ANI)
