A quiet, soft-spoken doctor from Jammu and Kashmir has emerged as the key suspect behind one of Delhi&rsquo;s deadliest explosions in recent years. Dr. Umar un-Nabi, 35, a medical professional described by his family as &ldquo;studious and calm,&rdquo; is now believed to be the man behind the Red Fort blast that killed 10 and injured over 20 on Monday evening.
According to Delhi Police&rsquo;s Special Cell, Umar was allegedly driving the Hyundai i20 that exploded near Lal Quila metro station, a blast that investigators now say was part of a wider terror network stretching from Pulwama to Faridabad.
The incident has sent shockwaves through security circles, not only for its brutality but also for how deeply entrenched the accused was in an educated, professional world, a doctor by title, but a key link in what officials call a &ldquo;white-collar terror network.&rdquo;
<h4 data-start="1160" data-end="1193">The Faridabad Connection</h4>
Before the explosion, security agencies had launched major raids in Faridabad that led to the recovery of nearly 3,000 kg of ammonium nitrate, detonators, and timers. The operation resulted in the arrest of seven people &mdash; including two doctors &mdash; and uncovered ties to Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM) and Ansar Ghazwat-ul-Hind (AGuH).
Officials say Umar was directly connected to both arrested doctors, Dr. Adeel Ahmed Rather, whom he knew from Government Medical College, Anantnag, and Dr. Muzammil Shakeel Ganaie, a former colleague from Al-Falah University in Faridabad.
&ldquo;In Anantnag, Umar worked as a senior resident at GMC, where he met Dr. Adeel. Later, in Faridabad, he and Dr. Muzammil worked at Al-Falah University,&rdquo; a senior officer said. Together, the trio allegedly handled logistics for JeM&rsquo;s network across north India.
<h4 data-start="2053" data-end="2089">Desperation and Destruction</h4>
Following the Faridabad raids, police say Umar panicked. Convinced he was next, he attempted to destroy evidence and relocate materials linked to the terror module. Investigators believe he drove into Delhi carrying ammonium nitrate fuel oil and a detonator, unaware that his bomb-making attempt was incomplete.
&ldquo;The explosion was caused by panic and desperation. The device was premature and not fully developed, which limited its impact,&rdquo; said an officer close to the investigation.
Forensic tests confirmed that the explosive material used in the Red Fort blast matched the same batch seized in Faridabad, tightening the case against the doctor.
<h4 data-start="2773" data-end="2808">Trail of Fear and Evidence</h4>
Umar, who had been avoiding his hospital duties since late October, switched off all five of his mobile phones after October 30. He had gone into hiding after the November 9 raids, which exposed the scale of the ammonium nitrate haul.
&ldquo;He was under pressure and knew the circle was closing in,&rdquo; said a senior investigator. &ldquo;When the ammonium nitrate seizures became public, he fled to Delhi with the explosive mix and a detonator.&rdquo;
CCTV footage later showed Umar driving the same Hyundai i20 in Faridabad&rsquo;s Sector 37 on October 29 &mdash; days before the explosion near Red Fort. &ldquo;He and Dr. Muzammil had known each other for years and were planning this attack while working at the university,&rdquo; another officer revealed.
<h4 data-start="3551" data-end="3593">A &lsquo;White-Collar&rsquo; Network Unmasked</h4>
Authorities believe Umar and his associates represent a new generation of radicalised professionals, highly educated, digitally skilled, and embedded in legitimate institutions while quietly aiding terror networks.
The Delhi Police has widened the investigation to track how these operatives blended into civil society while plotting acts of terror under the guise of professional respectability.
&ldquo;Each layer we uncover leads to another, a chilling reminder that terror today wears many faces, sometimes even that of a doctor,&rdquo; said a senior counterterror official.

Red Fort Blast: Dr. Umar’s Panic Led to Explosion

Delhi Police links Pulwama doctor Umar un-Nabi to Faridabad raids and Red Fort car blast

Red Fort Blast: Dr. Umar’s Panic Led to Explosion

Delhi Police links Pulwama doctor Umar un-Nabi to Faridabad raids and Red Fort car blast

November 12, 2025 | 15:49 IST