New Delhi, November 28: The National Investigation Agency has intensified its probe into the suicide car bomb attack near Delhi’s Red Fort, taking accused Dr Shaheen Saeed from Lucknow to Faridabad for on-site questioning, sources said on Friday.
Shaheen is among seven suspects arrested in connection with the November 10 blast that killed 15 people and injured several others. The NIA suspects he played a key role in planning and executing the attack, which has triggered one of the largest counter-terror operations in recent months.
Shaheen was arrested on November 20 along with Dr Muzammil Shakeel Ganai of Pulwama, Dr Adeel Ahmed Rather of Anantnag, and Mufti Irfan Ahmad Wagay of Shopian. All were taken into NIA custody in Srinagar on production orders from a Patiala House court judge.
According to sources, Shaheen was taken to Faridabad to recreate the sequence of events, as nearly 2,900 kg of explosives were recovered there shortly before the blast. The Hyundai i20 car used in the attack was also traced to a dealer in Faridabad.
Shaheen’s visit to the site was meant to verify information revealed by other accused, including the seventh suspect Soyab from Dhauj in Faridabad. The NIA says Soyab sheltered the bomber, Umar Un Nabi, and helped him with logistics before the attack. Soyab told investigators he provided support to Umar before the explosion.
The NIA said the inputs gathered so far have strengthened its understanding of the operational network behind the bombing. Investigators are following multiple leads and conducting searches in several states to identify more people involved in the conspiracy.
Earlier, the NIA arrested two other accused: Amir Rashid Ali, in whose name the explosive-laden car was registered, and Jasir Bilal Wani, who allegedly provided technical help to the bomber. All seven arrested suspects have been interrogated.
The agency took over the case from Delhi Police shortly after the blast and has since been coordinating with police forces in Delhi, Jammu and Kashmir, Haryana and Uttar Pradesh to track the entire module behind the attack.
Investigations revealed that Amir had come to Delhi to help purchase the car used as the vehicle-borne IED. Forensic tests confirmed the bomber was Umar Un Nabi, a Pulwama resident and assistant professor at Al-Falah University in Faridabad.
Another vehicle belonging to Umar has been seized for examination. The agency has questioned 73 witnesses so far, including injured victims.
The investigation continues across multiple states.
