Probe widens, 4 detained in Pulwama

Srinagar, Nov 11: Following the devastating car blast near Delhi’s Red Fort that killed 12 people on Monday evening, Jammu and Kashmir Police carried out a series of overnight raids across south Kashmir’s Pulwama district, detaining six persons.

Among those detained are two relatives of Dr Umar-un-Nabi, a suspected suicide attacker, a Pulwama-based medical practitioner who is now being described by investigators as a “vital link” between the Red Fort blast and the recently busted Faridabad terror module, from which nearly 2900 kg of explosives and arms were seized earlier this week.

Dr Umar, who hails from Koil village here in Pulwama district, has been missing since the investigation into the Faridabad terror module began.

Police have detained two of his family members for questioning, along with three other locals identified as Amir Rashid Mir, a plumber, Umer Rashid Mir, an employee with the Power Development Department, and Tariq Malik, a J&K Bank security guard.

The mother and father of Dr Umar have been taken for a DNA test to ascertain the facts about car drivers.

The DNA of the mother of Dr Umar is being collected from Pulwama and will be matched with unidentified bodies lying at Lok Nayak Hospital in New Delhi, Police sources said here.

“They are being interrogated by a joint team as part of the ongoing investigation into the larger terror network,” said a senior official, adding that intelligence inputs suggest the group may have been providing logistical and financial support to operatives based outside Kashmir.

The overnight crackdown in Pulwama follows the busting of a major Jaish-e-Muhammad (JeM) and Ansar Ghazwat-ul-Hind (AGH) support cell in Faridabad, Haryana, on Monday.

Seven people, including two Kashmiri doctors, were arrested after a massive cache of explosive and inflammatory materials, automatic rifles, pistols, and Improvised Explosive Device (IED) components was recovered.

Those arrested were identified as Arif Nisar Dar alias Sahil, Yasir-ul-Ashraf, and Maqsood Ahmad Dar alias Shahid, all residents of Nowgam, Srinagar; Maulvi Irfan Ahmad of Shopian; Zameer Ahmad Ahanger alias Mutlasha of Ganderbal; Dr Muzammil Ahmad Ganaie alias Musaib of Koil, Pulwama; and Dr Aadil Rather of Wanpora, Kulgam.

According to investigators, the accused were part of a network of educated professionals who used their social and professional cover to raise funds, recruit youth, and arrange logistics for terrorist activities across north India.

A J&K Police official said the operation to uncover the module began on October 19, following the recovery of Jaish-e-Muhammad posters from Nowgam, on the outskirts of Srinagar. “Subsequent intelligence leads connected these posters to an organised cell operating from Faridabad, with deep-rooted links in south Kashmir,” he said.

During the interrogation of those arrested in Faridabad, Dr Umar’s name surfaced as a close associate of Dr Muzamil Ahmad Ganaie, both belonging to the same Pulwama district. Investigators believe Dr Umar may have played a key role in channeling funds and procuring vehicles for the group’s operations.