Delhi Blast Declared Terror Attack: Second Suspect Car Found Near Faridabad, NSG on Site

Government confirms terrorist involvement in Red Fort explosion; PM Modi visits injured as probe intensifies with Jaish-e-Mohammad links emerging

By NewsArc India Desk

New Delhi, November 12, 2025

In a major development, the Indian government has officially classified the deadly car explosion near Delhi’s Red Fort Metro Station as a terrorist incident, escalating the investigation amid revelations of a broader plot. Authorities have located a second suspect vehicle—a red Ford EcoSport—parked near Faridabad, suspected of containing explosives. A National Security Guard (NSG) team has been deployed to the site for detailed inspection, sources confirmed.

The blast, which occurred on Monday evening (November 10) around 6:52 PM in a white Hyundai i20 car, claimed 12 lives and left over 20 injured. The vehicle, driven by Dr. Umar U Nabi—a self-radicalized doctor from Pulwama with alleged ties to Ansar Ghazwat-ul-Hind (an Al Qaeda affiliate in Jammu & Kashmir) and Jaish-e-Mohammad (JeM)—exploded accidentally due to the instability of the improvised explosive device (IED), according to security sources. Investigators believe Dr. Nabi panicked after a police raid in Faridabad and was en route to dispose of or relocate the explosives when the detonation happened.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi, returning from a diplomatic visit to Bhutan, visited the injured at Lok Nayak Jai Prakash (LNJP) Hospital on Wednesday afternoon. Spending about half an hour speaking with victims and inquiring about the incident, Modi later posted on X (formerly Twitter): “The conspirators will be punished.” He is set to chair a Cabinet Committee on Security (CCS) meeting later today, where Home Minister Amit Shah will present a detailed briefing. Shah has already directed agencies to ensure “every culprit is hunted down and faces the strictest action.”

The red Ford EcoSport, registered under Dr. Nabi’s name (DL10CK0458), was flagged in alerts issued to Delhi, Uttar Pradesh, and Haryana police. Its discovery near Faridabad has heightened fears of additional threats, with the NSG’s bomb disposal squad now examining the vehicle for IEDs similar to those recovered in recent raids—comprising ammonium nitrate, fuel oil, and detonators.

Investigations point to a “white-collar terror ecosystem” involving radicalized professionals, primarily doctors from Kashmir. So far:

– **Arrests and Raids**: Five doctors have been detained, including Dr. Muzammil Shakeel (arrested in Faridabad), Dr. Adil Ahmed Rather (from Saharanpur), Dr. Shaheen Saeed (linked to JeM’s women’s wing), Dr. Tajamul (from Srinagar), and others. Raids at Al Falah University in Faridabad yielded 2,900 kg of explosive materials, including 353 kg of ammonium nitrate. Additional searches in Shopian, Kulgam, and Mumbai’s Mumbra area led to more detentions and seizures of weapons and electronics.

– **Terror Plot Details**: Sources reveal a JeM-orchestrated plan for serial bombings targeting Delhi’s landmarks like Red Fort, India Gate, Constitution Club, and Gauri Shankar Temple, as well as railway stations and malls in Gurugram and Faridabad. The module, activated post-Operation Sindoor (which eliminated JeM founder Masood Azhar’s family), aimed to incite communal tensions. It reportedly involved 12-14 members, with handlers in Pakistan using social media for coordination. A January reconnaissance of Red Fort for a Republic Day attack was thwarted.

– **Forensic Progress**: Over 40 samples from the blast site confirm ammonium nitrate traces. DNA from Dr. Nabi’s mother and brother (detained in Pulwama) is being matched to remains. The i20, bought second-hand from Faridabad’s Royal Car Zone, changed hands multiple times without registration updates.

The National Investigation Agency (NIA) has formed a special team to lead the probe, invoking the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA), Explosive Substances Act, and Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS). Delhi Chief Minister Rekha Gupta announced compensation: ₹10 lakh for families of the deceased, ₹5 lakh for those permanently disabled, and ₹2 lakh for the seriously injured, with full medical support.

Eyewitnesses described scenes of chaos, with flames engulfing nearby vehicles and bodies scattered. The site remains cordoned off as forensic teams collect evidence, including car parts and CCTV footage tracing the i20’s 11-hour route from Faridabad.

Home Minister Shah emphasized in high-level meetings: “No one will be spared.” Borders along the Line of Control and Pakistan have been placed on high alert. Social media posts glorifying the blast led to five arrests in Assam.

As Delhi grapples with its first major blast in over a decade, experts warn of evolving threats from “self-radicalized” professionals. The nation remains vigilant, with calls for enhanced public transport, waste management, and alternatives to stubble burning to prevent exploitation by terror groups.