In the early hours of November 10, a blast near the iconic Red Fort in Delhi shook more than just the physical surroundings — it exposed a cavernous network of radicalisation, preparation and nearly-executed terror. According to officials, the man at the wheel of the explosives-laden car was Umar Nabi, a 28-year-old doctor from south Kashmir’s Pulwama district.
What emerged thereafter was a story that read like a schematic for a strike: from foreign travel to explosives accumulation, from conversion of a commuter vehicle into a vehicle-borne improvised explosive device (VBIED) to a targeted date for detonation.
1. The Man, the Mission, the Mayhem
Umar Nabi was no ordinary suspect. Officials describe him as “a loner with an excellent academic record”. That profile took a dramatic turn after he travelled to Türkiye in 2021 with another doctor, Muzammil Ahmad Ganaie (alias Musaib), a teaching faculty member in Faridabad’s Al Falah university. That trip, officials say, marked the beginning of his radicalisation.
Back in India, Umar began accumulating explosives — ammonium nitrate, potassium nitrate and sulphur — storing them at and around the Al Falah campus where Ganaie taught, and jointly plotting a strike.
When the blast near Red Fort occurred, Umar was driving a Hyundai i20 loaded with parts of a VBIED. The plan was for a carefully timed attack — for December 6, the anniversary of the demolition of the Babri Masjid. But authorities believe Umar panicked on November 10 when a senior police officer broadcast on television about the bust of a terror module with 2,900 kg of explosives in Faridabad — which included the 360 kg recovered from Ganaie’s room.
So instead of a high-precision strike, what occurred was a premature explosion: a VBIED still incomplete — shrapnel yet to be assembled — and triggering what officials currently assess as a panic-detonation rather than a suicide attack.
2. The Network: Kashmir, Haryana, Uttar Pradesh
The investigation further revealed an interstate module linked to the banned outfit Jaish‑e‑Mohammed (JeM). The eight men arrested span across Kashmir and Uttar Pradesh, with seven hailing from Kashmir:
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Arif Nisar Dar (alias Sahil), Yasir-ul-Ashraf and Maqsood Ahmad Dar (alias Shahid) from Nowgam, Srinagar.
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Maulvi Irfan Ahmad from Shopian; Zameer Ahmad Ahanger (alias Mutlasha) from Wakura, Ganderbal.
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Dr Muzammil Ahmad Ganaie (alias Musaib) from Koil, Pulwama; Dr Adeel from Wanpora, Kulgam.
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Dr Shaheen Sayeed from Lucknow.
This geographic spread highlights the modular nature of radical networks — rooted in one region, but reaching others to assemble expertise, logistics and execution.
Officials say the investigation started when posters supporting JeM were pasted on walls in Srinagar (on October 19) and CCTV footage led to Ganaie’s arrest. Another chain-reaction of detections then exposed Umar’s vehicle-based plot.
3. The Intended Date: December 6
Why December 6? The date corresponds to the anniversary of the Babri Masjid demolition — a historically charged moment. Officials believe Umar informed his accomplices that the strike would go off on December 6.
By targeting such a day, the module likely aimed for maximal symbolic impact — an act of terror intertwined with communal flash-points, and could have set off widespread turbulence. Instead, their plan derailed earlier.
4. The Blast, the Panic and the Turn of Events
On November 10, as Umar drove the Hyundai i20 laden with explosives, something went wrong. The VBIED was incomplete — shrapnel assembly still pending, other components not yet ready. Officials surmise the panic triggered between the rising police pressure and media commentary about the Faridabad bust. Umar reportedly hid in a mosque in the walled city for about three hours before departing, then the blast took place.
At least 12 people died in the explosion. The investigation continues to piece together whether this was an attempted suicide attack or an accidental premature detonation.
5. The Larger Implication
What this affair lays bare is several uncomfortable truths:
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Radicalisation in unlikely settings: A well-qualified doctor, excellent academic background, international travel for education — yet radicalised.
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Cross-state terror infrastructure: From Kashmir to Haryana to Uttar Pradesh — the network wasn’t constrained by geography.
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Vehicle-borne devices as terror tools: The attempt to convert a commuter car into a lethal instrument underscores evolving terror modalities.
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Symbolic targeting: December 6 is laden with historical tension — choosing such a date signals intent beyond mere destruction.
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Premature collapse of the plot: The collapse of the plot before the intended date indicates the effectiveness of proactive intelligence, or a signalling effect of the publicised bust.
6. A Glimmer of Relief — But No Room for Complacency
The fact that the plot did not reach its intended crescendo on December 6 provides some relief. The arrest of key operatives, retrieval of large quantities of explosives (360 kg + another 2,900 kg from Faridabad) and the exposure of the module highlight that intelligence and law-enforcement interventions are functioning.
Yet, the danger remains: networks adapt, techniques evolve, and new dates may be chosen. The element of panic leading to premature detonation in this case may simply evidence the network’s fragility under pressure — not its non-existence.
7. The Human Angle
Behind the chilling terms ‘module’, ‘VBIED’, ‘ammonium nitrate’ lies the human dimension: Umar’s family, friends, his abrupt declaration during a Kashmir visit in late October that he would be unavailable for three months — now eerie. The community in his home village in Pulwama is likely stunned — a doctor, someone of promise, becomes central to a terror investigation.
The victims of the blast — 12 lives cut short — remain at the heart of the cost of extremism. Their stories merit remembrance.
8. What to Watch For
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Whether authorities can trace the full chain: who instructed Umar and Ganaie, external funding, weapons-supply lines.
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Whether more arrests or recoveries follow in other states (UP, Haryana) given the inter-state nature of the module.
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How vehicle security around key monuments like the Red Fort will be bolstered.
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Whether radicalised individuals will increasingly leverage education/international exposure as cover for extremist transformation.
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How the intended “symbolic” date (Dec 6) logic might shift: will radicals pick other dates, will intelligence pre-empt by tightening surveillance ahead of anniversaries.
Final Thoughts
The November 10 blast near the Red Fort exposed more than a failed attack — it exposed a blueprint of modern terror in India: a seemingly respectable young doctor, a foreign trip, accumulation of high-grade explosives, a vehicle converted into a bomb, and a calculated symbolic strike date.
While the incident avoided its worst-case scenario (the December 6 attack), the episode serves as a stark reminder that terror networks are agile, often hidden in plain sight, and exploit both domestic and international linkages. The fact that the plot collapsed prematurely does not lessen its gravity — it underscores how high the stakes were.
As we reflect on this, the imperative is clear: constant vigilance, cross-state coordination, intelligence-sharing, community cooperation to detect radicalisation early, and robust security around national heritage sites. Because next time, the plan may not unravel so quickly.
Reviewed by Aparna Decors
on
November 12, 2025
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