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Umar’s Parents and brother were detained for questioning; ₹1 crore was seized in Rohtak; a premature explosion averted a major terror attack.
New Delhi/Faridabad/Srinagar: In a high-intensity counterterror operation following the Red Fort car blast that rocked Delhi on Monday evening, investigators have arrested Dr Sajjad from Faridabad, a close aide of Dr Mohammad Umar Nabi, the prime suspect believed to be the mastermind behind the explosion. The blast, which occurred near Gate No. 7 of the Red Fort Metro Station, killed 12 people and injured over 20 others. Authorities say the device detonated prematurely, averting a much larger tragedy.
Faridabad Arrest Leads to Major Breakthrough
According to top security officials, Dr Sajjad was apprehended late Tuesday night from Sector 20, Faridabad, following an extensive search operation jointly conducted by the Delhi Police Special Cell, Haryana ATS, and central intelligence agencies.
Sajjad is said to be the head of the Shaheen Jaish women’s wing, an affiliate linked to the banned terror outfit Jaish-ul-Mohammad (JeM). Investigators believe he was working directly under Umar Mohammad, who ran the Jamat-ul-Mominaa, JeM’s women recruitment and propaganda cell.
Sajjad’s parents and brother have also been taken into custody from their residence for interrogation. “We are examining digital evidence, foreign communication channels, and cash trail links. The Faridabad module was actively coordinating with handlers across the border,” a senior Delhi Police official confirmed.
Chemical Ingredients and Improvised Bomb Device
Preliminary forensic analysis has revealed that the improvised explosive device (IED) was a crude but lethal mixture of ammonium nitrate, fuel oil (phool), and electronic detonators. Officials said the absence of shrapnel and blast craters indicates the bomb went off before achieving complete detonation. “The intention was mass-scale destruction during peak metro hours,” said an official from the National Security Guard (NSG), who is assisting in the investigation. CCTV footage captured moments before the blast shows a masked man exiting a white car parked near the metro gate and disappearing into a nearby alleyway. That car, registered in Gurugram, is now a key piece of evidence in the investigation.
Al-Falah University Building No. 17, Room No. 13, Under Scanner
Investigations have now shifted to Al-Falah University, located on the outskirts of Faridabad, where Umar Mohammad served as an assistant professor in the Department of Chemistry and Biotechnology. Sources said that Umar and his associates had converted a section of the university’s Building No. 17, Room No. 13, into a makeshift research lab to manufacture experimental explosives under the guise of chemical studies.
Recovered laboratory equipment includes flasks, reaction tubes, and nitrogen containers, along with traces of chemicals consistent with those used as bomb precursors. Investigators are probing whether university staff or students were aware of these activities. The entire floor has been sealed, and the Forensic Science Laboratory (FSL) team is analysing seized samples.
Students from the campus told investigators that Umar had begun conducting “closed-door sessions” and was often seen meeting unknown visitors during off-hours. “He would talk about resistance and scientific jihad,” said one postgraduate student on condition of anonymity.
Cash Trail and Terror Funding Angle
In a simultaneous operation, the Haryana Police recovered ₹ one crore in cash from two suitcases found inside a car abandoned near Rohtak. The money was reportedly meant to fund the group’s logistics, training, and recruitment operations across the Delhi-NCR belt.
Officials are tracing the hawala channels and cryptocurrency wallets suspected of being used for these transfers. Two vehicles — a white sedan and a blue hatchback — used by Umar’s associates have been seized.
Wider Network Under Scanner
Security agencies are now tracking several sleeper cells across Delhi, Haryana, and Uttar Pradesh, which are believed to be linked to the same module. A high alert has been sounded across metro stations, public transport hubs, and academic institutions.
According to intelligence inputs, Dr Umar had been in touch with handlers based in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK) and had even travelled to Kerala and Hyderabad earlier this year to deliver closed-door lectures on “biochemical self-reliance” — a term investigators now believe was coded communication for explosives training. A multi-agency task force involving the NIA, IB, RAW, and Delhi Police Special Cell has been constituted to investigate cross-border financing and campus radicalisation.
Who is Mohammad Umar, the Mastermind?
Dr Mohammad Umar, aged 33, hails from and joined Al-Falah University five years ago after completing his PhD in applied chemistry. Once regarded as a brilliant academician, his ideological drift began around 2020 after connecting with online extremist forums.
Sources indicate that Umar gradually established a local network of sympathisers under the pretext of “research collaboration,” while his associate, Dr Sajjad, oversaw the recruitment of female operatives.
“A Major Attack Averted,” Say Officials
Top officials from the Union Home Ministry have described the Red Fort blast as a “warning that exposed a deeper terror network camouflaged within educational institutions. The premature explosion and swift police response prevented what could have been one of the deadliest attacks on the Capital in recent years,” said a senior officer associated with the investigation. Security has since been strengthened around key installations, including India Gate, Parliament Complex, and Delhi Metro corridors.
