Dr Umar triggered Delhi car blast just in panic — or something worse? Suicide attack angle under probe

What began as a seemingly isolated incident in Jammu and Kashmir would soon unravel into a chilling case that stretched across Uttar Pradesh, Haryana, and the national capital, uncovering a new form of extremism that police now call a “white collar terror ecosystem.”

The investigation has led authorities to three Kashmiri doctors — Dr Adeel Ahmad Rather, Dr Muzammil Shakeel, and Dr Umar Mohammad — whose backgrounds in medicine stand in stark contrast to the violent plot they are accused of being part of.

The blast that shook Delhi

At around 6:52 pm on Sunday, chaos erupted near Delhi’s Red Fort when a white Hyundai i20 exploded at a traffic signal on Netaji Subhash Marg, a bustling stretch flanked by Chandni Chowk on one side and the Mughal-era monument on the other.

Witnesses described a “huge fireball” as flames engulfed nearby vehicles.

Firefighters battled the blaze for over 30 minutes, and by the time it was contained, nine people were dead and over 20 were injured.

The explosion’s intensity immediately set off a massive security response.

Within hours, multiple agencies were involved in piecing together the sequence of events leading to what is now being treated as a potential terror attack.

The car that changed hands multiple times

Tracing the car became the first breakthrough.

Registered under the number HR26CE7674, the i20 was initially owned by a man named Salman, who told police he had sold it to Devender in March.

The car then changed hands multiple times — from Devender to Aamir, then to Tariq, and finally ended up with Dr Umar Mohammad.

Umar, who was already under investigation in the Srinagar poster case, is now suspected to be the man behind the wheel at the time of the explosion.

CCTV footage shows a partial glimpse of his face moments before the blast. Investigators plan to conduct DNA tests to confirm whether Umar was indeed the driver.

Tracing the bomb-making trail

The arrests of Dr Adeel in Saharanpur and Dr Muzammil in Faridabad led to a major recovery — nearly 2,900 kilograms of suspected ammonium nitrate, stored across two rooms in Faridabad.

The same chemical, security agencies believe, was used in the Red Fort explosion.

The seized material also included assault rifles, pistols, and IED components, indicating a sophisticated operation with high levels of planning. Investigators say the network had access to funds and logistics usually seen in organised militant groups rather than individual actors.

Panic or planned suicide attack — or something worse?

While the Ministry of Home Affairs and Delhi Police have not officially termed the incident a terror attack, a case has been filed under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA), which is invoked in terrorism-related investigations.

Union Home Minister Amit Shah confirmed that all angles are being explored, and the National Investigation Agency (NIA) may soon take over the probe.

Early intelligence suggests that Umar may have triggered the explosion intentionally, possibly as a suicide attack after his associates’ arrest and the massive seizure of explosives.

According to a senior security official, Umar’s “panic and fear of imminent arrest” might have driven him to carry out a desperate act, detonating the car bomb to avoid capture.

The rise of 'white collar' terror

What makes this case stand out is the profile of the accused — educated professionals from respected institutions, with no previous record of violent activity.

Dr Adeel Ahmad Rather: Formerly associated with the Government Medical College, Anantnag, later worked at a private hospital in Saharanpur.

Dr Muzammil Shakeel: Served as a senior resident at Al Falah School of Medical Sciences & Research Centre for three years.

Dr Shaheen Shahid: A Lucknow-based doctor and colleague of Muzammil, who was also detained after weapons were found in her car.

Dr Umar Mohammad: Believed to be the car driver and the prime suspect, who had close ties to Adeel and was reportedly radicalised through encrypted online platforms.

Investigators say these individuals were part of a new-age terror model — one that doesn’t rely on typical militant training or rural hideouts but instead infiltrates professional spaces, using academic networks for recruitment and fundraising.

Encrypted networks and hidden agendas

According to the Jammu and Kashmir Police, the group used encrypted apps and online channels to communicate, move funds, and coordinate logistics.

Under the guise of charitable or social initiatives, they allegedly raised money and recruited sympathisers.

“Funds were raised through professional and academic networks, under the pretext of social causes,” the police statement read.

“The accused identified, radicalised, and recruited individuals into terrorist ranks, besides arranging logistics, arms, and bomb-making material,” it added.

This shift — from rural militancy to an urban, educated, and digitally connected terror ecosystem — is being seen as one of the most alarming trends in recent years.

The investigation ahead

As the probe expands, investigators are trying to connect the dots between the Srinagar poster campaign, the Faridabad bomb-making factory, and the Red Fort blast.

Forensic teams are analysing samples from the explosion site, while digital evidence seized from the doctors’ devices could reveal how deep the network runs.

Whether the Red Fort blast was an act of panic or a deliberate suicide mission, it has already exposed a chilling transformation in India’s fight against terrorism — one that no longer wears a uniform of extremism, but a white coat.