New Delhi/Srinagar: Police on Tuesday investigated the Red Fort blast as a possible terror attack and zeroed in on a Pulwama doctor, who was driving the car that exploded and had links to a terror module busted with the recovery of explosives mainly from Faridabad.
Dr Umar Nabi is believed to have died in the blast that killed at least 12 people on Monday evening. On Tuesday, Jammu and Kashmir police took a DNA sample from his mother to establish the connection.
“We have taken the DNA sample to match with the parts found at the scene of the blast,” an official said in Srinagar.
Police are now searching for Umar and checking if he is among the deceased.
The blast occurred at 6.50 pm near the red light close to gate number 1 of the Red Fort Metro station. Sources said ammonium nitrate fuel oil (ANFO) was used in the explosion.
“This is connected to the cache of arms and explosive material, believed to be ammonium nitrate, recovered from Faridabad earlier,” the source said.
Jammu and Kashmir Police, along with Haryana Police, had recovered 2,500kg of IED-making material during a raid at two houses rented by doctor Muzammil Shakeel in Fatehpur Taga village in Faridabad. The haul included around 360kg of highly inflammable material, suspected to be ammonium nitrate, along with chemicals, reagents, electronic circuits, batteries, wires, remote controls, timers, and metal sheets.
Shakeel was arrested before the raid along with another doctor Adeel Ahmed Rathar.
Investigators also traced the car’s ownership trail. Sources said its original owner was Salman, who had sold the vehicle to Devender, before it was bought by Umar.
