Pulwama Doctor Umar un-Nabi Emerges as Key Suspect in Red Fort Blast Linked to Faridabad Terror Network

Described by his family as “quiet and studious,” 35-year-old Dr. Umar un-Nabi from Jammu and Kashmir has emerged as the prime suspect in the Red Fort car blast that shocked the national capital on Monday, killing at least 10 people and injuring several others.

A doctor by profession, Umar is believed to have been driving the Hyundai i20 that exploded near the Lal Quila Metro Station, in what investigators now believe was a botched terror operation connected to a larger network exposed during recent raids in Faridabad.

Link to Faridabad Terror Network

Umar is alleged to have direct ties with two doctors arrested in the Faridabad terror module, which was busted last week after authorities recovered nearly 3,000 kg of ammonium nitrate. The operation, led by national security agencies, exposed what investigators called a “white-collar terror network”.

Among those arrested was Dr. Adeel Ahmed Rather, a former colleague of Umar at Government Medical College (GMC), Anantnag, and Dr. Muzammil Shakeel Ganaie, a fellow Pulwama native and colleague at Al-Falah Medical College and Hospital in Faridabad.

According to the Delhi Police Special Cell, the trio allegedly ran a logistics network linked to the Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM), coordinating the movement of explosives and funds between Pulwama and Delhi-NCR.

Panic After Raids

Investigators believe Umar panicked after the large-scale Faridabad raids and tried to relocate or destroy evidence, fleeing to Delhi with a detonator and ammonium nitrate fuel oil. His five mobile numbers went inactive after October 30, and he stopped reporting to work days before the explosion.

“Raids by security agencies across multiple locations created panic among the group. Umar acted hastily under pressure, which likely led to the accidental explosion,” a senior officer told Hindustan Times.

‘Premature Bomb’ Theory

Officials suspect the device detonated prematurely, suggesting that the blast was unintentional rather than a planned suicide attack.

“The bomb was incomplete and detonated due to panic and desperation,” said an investigator. “The explosives used match the material seized in Faridabad.”

CCTV Footage and Trail

CCTV footage shows Umar driving the same white Hyundai i20 minutes before the blast near Red Fort — the same car he was seen using earlier in Faridabad’s Sector 37 on October 29.

Investigators say the pattern points to a single chain of events — from the Faridabad raids and arrests to Umar’s flight to Delhi and the eventual explosion.

“He was under pressure and knew the circle was closing in,” said an officer. “This incident appears to be a desperate attempt to evade capture that went tragically wrong.”